Asset protection and estate planning are all different animals and most attorneys will specialize or be in a firm where all specialities are represented.I'm not sure how much you'll benefit from an attorney who is also an investor.

I'm also a full-time loan assistant at North Valley Bank in Thornton, CO.

Of course that happens in some cases, but the majority of students are not party animals and will be just fine as renters.

California is a whole different animal, I have a friend looking at buying outside the Bay Area.

Earlier this year I put on a stone coated steel roof for $28,000 and had it repainted/wood rot siding repaired for $3,600With the $75k repairs it would be worth approx $300k on the low end and $325 on the high end. 

Skim over plaster means to put a coat of drywall "mud" or compound over all the walls to smooth out any old crappy plaster texture and repaint

Being my first plex, is a NIM of 15 considered a good deal in your opinion? 

When she moved out, there was a huge mess made on the home, (Trash, carpet was left extremely dirty, messy toilets,  dirt and animal fur all over the place and strong smell of cats including evidence of cat claws on the carpet steps.

I would tell the tenant that if they want the dog they will have to pay for the fence rebuild out of their own pocket using a contractor of your choice, that they will have to have a Renter's Insurance policy with a pet rider that covers the dog breed and you (or your company) as the Additional Interest, and charge additional animal rent.

The baseboards were chewed up from animals so I replaced all of the wood trim throughout the house.