I have had an account/profile with Bigger Pockets for a while, yet I never took the time to completely setup my profile or simply seek the "How to Get Started on BiggerPockets.com" guide.Basically, I have always wanted to be involved with renting, flipping, DIYs, and nearly every avenue of real state investing, but I never had the money, resources, or guidance to do so.

I don't have IRA account.

All you need is the plan and a bank account.

If you did that, I would agree you're not ignoring operating expenses.You can argue semantics all day, but if you state a cash flow and ROI numbers that don't take into account operating expenses (and doesn't mention that you're not taking them into account), you are by-definition ignoring operating expenses.I'm not saying you're acting unethically and I'm not saying that you're not running your company completely above board; but I am saying that -- assuming the OP's cut-and-paste of your deals is accurate -- your claim to not be ignoring expenses is inaccurate.

Brian it just depends on the tenants.I do small increases but not too large.If the tenant has lived their awhile I have to weigh going up 20 bucks a month for 240 extra a year versus them moving,losing a months worth of rent (840) and then putting about 1,000 or more in new carpet paint and repairs.So at 240 extra a year it would take me about 9 years to recoup that money on the unit.It also depends on if you plan holding it that long or not.In my area tenants are barely getting by and lay-offs are happening every month to some.I think right now at least for my area isn't the time to push rent increases strong.I know what you are saying about landlords not increasing the rent for years and years.Some just want full and not deal with the headache anymore.They would rather have full and paying than charge higher rates and have more turnover and struggling from the tenants and more accounting to keep up with at multiple payments per month to pay the total rent.I believe as long as you are close to market rent but under by just a little you are not losing that much.It also depends on how cheap you bought the property.Some buy really cheap and cash flow like a monster because they purchased so low even though below market rents.

The reason for me is this: If you have a tenant that has their gas cut off in December and it gets turned on, under your account, you can't (legally) turn it off.

It doesn't seem like the IRS would allow merging of retirement funds but after reading Jon Holdman's (whose information and advice has been especially helpful) posting in this topic, it appears that you can merge accounts.

Should or can a tenant claim that the security deposit be returned (minus deduction) but with the percentage that a normal savings account acquired since it was money just sitting in the bank.Thanks

Okay , So I bought a short sale for all cash and fixed it up and rented it out, went to a local bank had it appraised for 90,000 they gave me a loan of $ 60,000 [ by the way because I was in a nasty divorce my credit is poor] I bought a secont house for $10000 again fixed it up with $30,000 and rented it out, I put $20,000 in my saving account.

Are they taking that into account or can this be an exception to that rule?