If I am trying to come up with an alternative to both trusts and llcs, what you would suggest that I do in order to still have the utmost privacy and take my personal residence out of my name?

These sort of things get you experience in real estate and come with a steady paycheck.Without knowing any of your background, though, I would suggest there may be other alternatives.

And the alternative to TD investing is what?

In addition, would a growing portfolio of rentals trigger the wrath of the Alternative Minimum Tax?

You just have to be a bit more on the periphery of the Bay..An alternative for this amount of funds would be to invest in something cheap out of state.

I live in California and it cost $800 a year to run an S-corp, which is not to much of a concern if it really is a better alternative.

Also, try alternating between direct mailing and direct calling.

I like the idea of two offers with different alternatives, great thinking!

I also have 15 years experience in other sorts of non-stock market alternative investments.

There is always Summerville, or alternatively, consecutive flipping where the hold period is mere months.