Not by a long shot.I learned what I got from the OG, and I can teach you what they taught me.Find your OG.MindsetOftentimes, I see with new and established real estate investor clients that it’s more about mindset than pure know-how, which differentiates the successful from the not.

But on its own, purely as a number, it makes no sense.Instead of focusing on just accumulating properties, I think the real question we should all be asking is: "What's my retirement number?

I'd still paint the walls and trim a shade of white like Sherwin Williams Pure White or Snowbound and if you want a light grey as suggested above, the go to is Sherwin Williams Agreeable Grey.

The decision between buying a true investment property vs. a second home with STR income depends a lot on how you plan to use it—and how much you want the IRS involved in that definition.Here’s a quick breakdown to help you compare: Option 1: Second Home w/ STR IncomeYou stay in the property personally (including friends/family time).You can still rent it out, but personal use impacts tax deductions.If you use it more than 14 days OR more than 10% of total rental days, it’s considered a personal residence with rental activity under IRS rules.Pros:May qualify for second home mortgage rates (usually lower than investment)You get personal use flexibilityCons:Rental-related expenses must be prorated based on personal useLess tax write-off potential (can’t take passive loss deductions unless it qualifies as a business) Option 2: Pure Investment Property (STR Business)You limit or eliminate personal use.The property is treated as a rental business under the IRS.You can write off:DepreciationManagement feesTravel to inspect/manageSupplies, repairs, and morePros:More robust tax benefitsClearer cash flow analysisEasier to grow into multiple unitsCons:No personal use flexibility without triggering IRS reclassificationOften comes with slightly higher lending rates or down payment requirements Where to Start:Talk to a STR-friendly CPA – This is huge.

DSCRs are great because they’re 30-year fixed, often with no income verification, and based purely on property performance.

My first pure rental I thought I had great numbers when they were below average to average at first.

This prevents the unit from overworking to compensate for accumulated heat.Essential Maintenance Tasks- Check Thermostat Batteries: Weak or dead batteries can prevent your system from operating correctly- Clear Air Vents: Remove any covers and ensure vents are not blocked by furniture or other obstructions- Replace the Air Filter: A clogged filter drastically reduces efficiency.

Battery/Solar cameras are great until you have a rainy week, or you find out that not enough sun hits the camera during the winter, or a tree causes shade, etc.

Although I'm sure there are still FSBOs to be found on classified sites I don't feel like sifting through 1,000 agent ads to find 1 FSBO.As far as I can tell it looks like most of the sellers who would have been pure FSBOs back in the day are now using flat fee MLS listings but the way our public MLS sites are set up here in Ontario there's nothing in the listing like: "Contact Seller Directly" to indicate which are FSBOs and which aren't.Tell me if I'm crazy but the best idea I've come up with to find what I think are likely to be FSBOs is to sort listings by high days on market and look for ones listed with an out-of-town broker.

Are you looking for a pure cash flow play or a neighborhood with more appreciation potential?