Thankfully some other deal will hopefully make up for that but I can't tell you how many deals have collapsed at the 11th hour through no fault of my own over the years and for me to get a fat $0 in earnings.

The insurance industry is highly profitable, and by using the self-insurance technique you can essentially get a cut of those profits for yourself, both reducing the effective cost of insurance you pay and also giving you the peace of mind that having a nice fat self-insurance fund sitting there provides.

Just asking as a novice person reading this trading naked would be a risky bet.Since the volatility is so high, spreads are pretty fat right now,but don't know when it will drop to grab the premium ;)----For the other answers,  we are in an unchartered market.

If you are concerned about the turn, buy fat deals.

Hi Renee,If you income has been below the IRS filing threshold amount for some time, and the $300,000 has fallen to you tax free (like a one time thing in your life) it might be smart to NOT take a big risk with it, and pay cash for the house and live off the rental income (and pay tax on that income if you have to).If you start breaking the $300,000 up as down payments on several places, and take out loans out and things go bad, you could lose the additional homes, and the bank will get the $300,000 you used as down payments leaving you with nothing.Somebody once said pigs get fat hogs get slaughtered, and that's something that someone with history lower income should think about.But if you want to borrow, and can find a lender then go for it.

In that timeframe, the real estate market in the Riviera Maya has been red hot so this is pretty bad.The developers and the promotors of these deals (who get paid fat commissions to sell them) might be the only ones who will make (serious) money there.

I'd agree with your initial post...If you're finding the offmarket deals yourself (and not having fat trimmed by a wholesaler/agent), you could still make it happen depending on your location. 

( * Just FYI, Home Depot now has real marble vanity tops in stock for unbelievably great prices--not carrara, but a type of marble called Arabescato Venato, which has both gray and beige and/or brown veining, so it can work with older beige and almond/bone colored tile, (like mine) too!

With respect to item #1 don't just focus on the expense side and trimming the fat; focus on ways to increase your income. 

They are telling you upfront they are going to be one of the worse tenants you will ever experience.Tell them a big fat "NOOOO",... and pray they get mad and don't sign your lease.