Long story short policies and things are happening in certain areas that are pushing away strong individualistic or even capitalistic tendencies in favor of reliance on government and lack of individuality and grouping in a way that is almost communistic in nature. 

It talks about all the material participation rules, and how to ruin a taxpayer's day.Having a W-2 job is likely a killer... but at the same time, if that W-2 is not material or if your reliance on that income is not material, then we say go for it.

My short term goal (5 year) is to hit a freedom number and exceed $2500 in cash profit monthly so I can eliminate my reliance on my practice and transition full time to real estate.

, and there isn't any looming threat that at any moment you'll find yourself beguiled by a guru and swept off into bankruptcy. 2) Critique the situation yourself - I say this because you're going to need to get used to self-reliance in this biz.

Cardone's main principles are sound.  1. be invested in workforce housing.   2. more consolidated units, more down-side protection. 3. be careful about reliance on your sfr for equity. 

An index fund is diversified in a way that a single property definitely is not, but with comp pricing in residential property, there's a similar reliance on the tide.

Just like there was too much reliance on buying for appreciation pre 08  there is far to much reliance or those that sell turn key for a living like many on this site do.. on Cash flow in out of state markets..

Baltimore absolutely has its issues (I, personally, wouldn't live there due to the schools and crime), but as the saying goes "Live where you want to live, Invest where the numbers make sense".Some things to note as an investor: high property tax rate (but assessments tend to be lower), high reliance on voucher tenants, city government is a PIA to deal with.Get a great Realtor, get a licensed property manager (PMs aren't required to be licensed in MD, FYI) and start scouting neighborhoods.

Practical self-reliance and workbench artisanry, they meant nothing as national virtues.

No, probably not, at 60% LTV, yes that may fly with less concern.Much of it will be about the deal, the parties, collateral, LTV, and how much reliance there will be given to an audit trail of the transaction.