It's not worth the headache to stoop to their level.

Real estate investors from a macro level needs to do three things correctly.

Finally, with the use of Trusts while establishing these structures you can add a level of anonymity by removing your name from public record.When I work with my clients to discuss asset protection I navigate with them through: the size of their portfolio, their level of exposure and their future goals.

Depending on the level of your income, rental tax loss through depreciation may even lower your AGI.

I have a fair amount carpentry and DIY skills and a pretty robust inventory of tools to start with coupled with roughly 60k in capitol to start with.

This meant that the appraiser would then take the current rents, which couldn't service the higher debt level.

You have to find another source-either a distressed property, something you can improve and up the value to another level, or perhaps develop relationships with brokers and wholesalers who will bring a deal to you because they know you as someone who has the ability to close.

Neighborhood doesn't look like a war zone, the $25k in likely rehab may care some people off as an investment in this level of property. 

You are looking at about $250k-$275k for a piggy back 2 level Townhouse.Ray

But I was just discussing with @Brendan Lawrence just last week, that now with a certain amount of wealth, maybe it is time to shift towards taking on some more risk in the portfolio after getting over a hump of a getting to a net worth with a certain comfort level.