Also, I get the sense you've never dealt with a crisis like Katrina.

The perfect icebreaker, heheh.They asked me to fill out a form so the broker could contact me, I handed over a business card instead (not property related occupation).

A word of advice:Leave all of your Charge cards and your checkbook(s) at home!

Give the tenant a $20 gas card and call it a day.

I'm thinking the first things to do are probably network at REI to build my cash buyers list, get business cards to hand out and investigate setting up an LLC.

We required picture ID, SS card or evidence of SS number, last two months bank statements, from the applicant.

In real estate investing, I have dealt with a ton of people who had the same attitude as the woman you described above.

Without a third management entity, I would conceptually have to duplicate everything... for instance, two accounts with my tenant screening service, two Home Depot credit cards, which entity pays for a major tool purchase that will be used on both companies?

I won't be doing any patents, just using it for my marketing materials (business cards, signs and letterhead) most likely.

Actually, you reminded me of a couple of GC's I met last year whose cards I kept who specialize in rehab/flips.