What would you tell yourself to do more of and less of? --174.201.xx.xx

But I am also old and wise enough to know that sometimes we do things at a given pace because that is all we can handle at that time, so I am not too hard on myself. I also appreciate what nursing has taught me. I can't tell you how many times I have had to call someone up to tell them their mother has died. After that, enforcing lease rules or serving notice for non-payment of rent is not hard. I feel for the young landlords who anguish over enforcing limits. They just haven't lived long enough. --98.145.xx.xxx

People lie. They don't make decisions like you do. Don't project your values or life experiences on them. Don't get invested in their failures, because they're certainly not equally invested in your success. --96.46.xxx.xx

This Winter I'm going back to Jersey to visit what family I have left(just mom and bro left) and stay with them while collecting rents and do some soul searching with the aid of some mushrooms. I plan to come back even stronger next year so by 50 I can enjoy life more instead of always being a nervous wreck that no one can see but me. --74.132.xxx.xxx

I would tell myself not to short Apple, but to go long..... I would of listened to my parents 20 years ago when they wanted me to buy the duplex down the road from my house for $85k, it's worth $200 k right now and rents for $1050 each side. I wouldn't of sold my personal house 24 years ago when I wanted to move on up, I should of kept it as a rental. I should of held my personal house 15 years ago when I was ready to move on up again, sold it for $ 93, it's worth $ 165 today... I wanted nothing to do with rentals at that time. Glad I finally saw the light, I am a 3rd gen landlord, I should of known better. --75.141.xxx.xxx

Also there may have been some pretty serious moral values that would have been crushed [and some pretty serious "people" involved. --173.70.xxx.xxx

--65.31.xxx.x

Here's the fun thing: even though we don't get to go back to be young again, the real estate market cycle gives us time to apply new wisdom to the same old market. Price ARE climbing again. People ARE borrowing more and thinking less. They are forgetting the lessons we learned from the last bubble already. Therefore, it's only a matter of time before...POP!...and this time, I WILL have cash and WILL pay less. --173.19.xx.xxx

- only surround myself with folks who are good for my future --71.15.xxx.xx

Stop for a food break more often, when my dad helped me I was always thinking I have to stop every 3-4 hours to feed him, many days turned into nights before I had lunch at 8-9PM, I have done it several times since but my hangover happens more often and I lose a half day following a -long day-, I am feeling the years a little now - used to push a 4 ton heat pump up the ladder but now I have to buy smaller places that only use a 2 or 2.5ton unit, no more packaged roof units on the ladder... --76.188.xxx.xxx

Of course make more mistakes. Take more risks!!! In practice that means have more Plan A with reasonable B & C plans. Have more A plans. Do not get this confused with the stupid saying jump and wings will appear. No prepare for SUCESS and FAILURE and you will grow wings. Wings do NOT appear/grow on their own. --71.15.xxx.xx

--71.123.xxx.xxx

My young "investor" self wasn't that long ago ... what I WOULD do is tell my YOUNGER SELF to do this EARLIER! --69.201.xx.xxx

Have more sex. :) --72.94.xx.xx

NE, From my perspective up here in Southern Connecticut.My innermost thoughts would be to congratulate all of you on your achievements.NE, I don't think I would change a thing.I hit the shores of North America Pier90 on the West side of New York City back in the mid 50s with 20£ Sterling about 40$ in a old beat up wallet.visited with my Aunt Rose on Briggs Ave in the Bronx.Enjoyed the reunion and meeting all her friends,going to Irish Dances and Ceilidhes. Had a great time. The trip over the Broad Atlantic was also the experience of a lifetime,the ship we came on was one of the last Cunard Crossings.Was the end of an Era. Bought my first house the first year after I arrived, couldn't see paying $100 a month rent, never paid rent before in my life, why should I start now? I did make a mistake while in New York on the West Side somewhere around 11 th Avenue after leaving the Ship ,There was a bunch of $100 bills lying on the side walk, said to myself, I'll start picking it up after I have a sandwich.Big mistake, Back home they said "the sidewalks of new York were paved with gold" You know NE they were wrong! They were pretty accurate in a lot of things they taught me, I'm not Presbyterian, but I acquired many of their ways growing up in Northern Ireland for which I am eternally grateful. I'm getting older now and I don't want to do anything anymore,very lazy. But I wouldn't change a thing, from your postings, most of you are mere children, so you're still going to have a great life, just like Jimmy Stewart! Charlie....... ..... .....Oh! And NE, no more stepping on un-nailed ply. The powers that be say this is the hottest year ever ,they are out of their heads! After I came here,in different parts of Connecticut, we put the thermometer down,had to pick it up quick,was climbing to 130*, that was as high as it read! --70.215.xx.xxx

........................... --70.215.xx.xxx

Rathdrum Gal, The work you did will be more appreciated than you can imagine.Nursing is a Noble Profession,You may not be Florence Nitinggale, but that's alright. Just as good. Charlie...... ..... .... --70.215.xx.xxx

Don't be my worst critique. --24.180.xxx.x

To go all in earlier and not to sweat a few dollars one way or the other on the deal. --24.98.xxx.xx

Buy gold and silver. --70.181.xxx.xxx

I would tell my younger self "Don't take it personal!" I would get so frustrated being good to a tenant for them to just up and leave--owing. ITS A BUSINESS! Keep it at that distance and don't let it make you hard. Keep a reserve by all means, then you don't have to cringe when the phone rings scared of what's broken now. AND PRAY ALOT. The good Lord will give you a good tenant and the money (not always oodles of it) but enough to handle problems as they come. IF you Pray, believe and just wait! Which brings me to patience--many times I took whoever I could get to rent to, to get that mortgage covered. Its not worth it sometimes. Stay focused on the prize. Retirement--cause you are going to feel old and gray EARLY from this business, lol. --23.30.xxx.xx

buy it. --76.176.xxx.xxx

--172.10.xxx.xxx

Dan --76.105.xxx.xx

It is nice to watch PBS or read a book and say "I have been there before" but it would be much nicer to be financially secure right now (at age 56). Instead I'm pursuing real estate investment with a vengeance, at a time when my patience and energy are low. I'm paying now for my good timing back then. --199.83.xx.xx

"One day, someone is going to ask you what you would tell your younger self if you could go back in time. You should start thinking of a witty response." --24.103.xxx.xxx

Haha Mike-Ca, I love it!! --174.201.xx.xxx

8 months after my hubby died, a man who wanted to marry me when I was 18 lost his wife and we dated again for 6 months. At 18, I left him because he lied to his hardworking parents to buy golf clubs instead of paying rent. He was just not honest. At 56, I found I could not stand him for the same reasons. --216.23.xxx.xx

Good morning everyone,it is now 12.47,afternoon,time for breakfast. Lovely day here in Connecticut.Temperature around 68* ,what more can you ask? Charlie...... ..... .... ... .. . --70.215.xx.xxx

Invest in Microsoft in 1989. Don't buy Enron. --24.121.xxx.xxx

Don't wait to invest, invest and then wait --24.239.xx.xxx

I cent 9 yrs getting a degree in engineering --24.251.xxx.xxx

BRAD --73.146.xxx.xxx

We haven't done half bad, in fact we've done REALLY good, even tho we didn't get started until we were in our forties, over twenty years ago. I worked like mad to pay our primary house mortgage off, and then we cashed out on it again and built two houses on land I had, in the meantime, purchased with cash. A third house was later built on that same piece of property. My husband didn't even know I had bought it until I knew it was time to build. We were so scared we actually put up a For Sale sign on one of the houses when it was under construction. Over the years we have accumulated a total of 26 properties, 18 of which are paid for (with a remaining 2 4-plexs we still have small mortgages on. If I could time travel and visit myself when we were bound and determined to purchase our first home, I'd say: Hang on!! Don't purchase a SFH that you have set your heart on!! There's another better option - purchase a duplex instead and rent the other side out! Looking back, I would have started into the rental property business earlier, I would have started paying things off even sooner, and I would have said YES to several incredible deals that slipped thru my fingers when I was just a little too scared. Keep in mind, the older we get the more careful we have to be with our decisions. When you're young you still have time to recover from a financial mistake, not so when you are older. And you never know what the future may hold either. My husband was diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's several years ago, so now I run our business myself. My goal is to finish paying off the properties as soon as possible while still providing a living for us. Being debt free is the best feeling ever, and I look forward to being in that position once again soon! --99.110.xxx.xx

Not one person lays on their death bed and wished they'd worked more. --166.137.xxx.xx

Thought this might be interesting . --108.51.xxx.xxx

Inflation is your friend when you own property. --172.88.xx.xxx

--66.227.xxx.xxx

--66.227.xxx.xxx

Almost 11a.m. And time for breakfast,Must say I'm up early today.it's a nice day here , a little windy,but comfortable.Have a great Christmas everyone?...............Charlie. .. ... .... ..... ...... --174.199.xx.x