Then, weigh that cost versus the time and additional red tape you'll have to endure to get it done by the government, not to mention ceding temporary control of your asset to them. 

Step 3, is putting in place enduring actions to prevent reoccurrence.

Hi Jules, Your perspective beautifully captures the resilience of real estate as a tangible, enduring asset.

so those willing to endure the pain will succeed.

Obviously 6 months later you'll have to endure some interest rate risk as the market can change but sometimes this strategy is worth the risk, all things considered.Let me know if that helps. 

I have always been interested in real estate investment, but have always been scared of enduring the hard times with no consistent cash flow. 

Downside: It cuts into your bottom line increasing expenses, having to endure ridiculous rules that may not make sense to you or your tenants, restrictions on the number of units the HOA allow to be non-owner occupied (The HOA can decide to limit, reduce or expand the number of non-owner occupied units at any time).

That is a difficult thing to endure.

Real estate investment is a great supplement to teaching, and if you love teaching, which I'm sure you do, the income that you receive from real estate investing can relieve you from the financial burdens that unfortunately those of us in the teaching profession now I have to endure.

So that you CAN achieve as much as that one dude who had to endure grueling periods of trial and error and pain with 1/10th the pain and effort.