What did you like about Jim that you hope stays the same with us?

If you want to stick with your original plan/question why not just find a good Realtor in your area that currently runs property management and move slow - acquire nice properties and play it safe staying within your metrics.

Hard assets will be the place to be, real estate and gold, and if you can finance RE with a modest amount of low fixed-rate debt (no more than 65% LTV to ensure staying cash flow positive in the coming carnage), then all the better.1996 21.2%1997 31.3%1998 23.4%1999 23.6%2000 -10.9%2001 -11.0%2002 -20.9%2003 31.6%2004 12.5%2005 6.4%2006 15.8%2007 5.6%2008 -37.2%2009 28.3%2010 17.2%2011 1.0%2012 16.1%6/28/13 YTD 14.0%

I ran across this site after listening to the podcast and have to say this is a breath of fresh air!

You have to keep your head in the game and stay FOCUSed.

Since I have to sign on with an agency for two years before I get my Brokers License and presumably stay with one after I get it, how can I make this work?

I also agree that some fresh landscaping would really help.

- I screen for long term, kids to stay in the high school etc.- I specifically ask: why this house and not the prior house you saw.

I plan to save up enough money (Im not sure how much I would need to be secure) to purchase my first investment duplex (stay in one unit and rent the other unit out).

Some of them you never see.I include a variety of things in my lease, from storage (no lawn furniture or storage sheds allowed), no pools, no trampolines, no fire pits, no fireworks, no smoking on the property, no alcohol to minors, no minors shall stay the night in the property for any reason at any time, a limit on overnight guests, how much notice to vacate, liability waivers, and items about quiet enjoyment.