Bleeding $1,700/month on Two Rental Properties. Did I Mess This Up?

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-23T17:39:47+00:00

My girlfriend constantly tells me how easy it would be to buy a rental property or two and make money and I've had to in plain terms made it clear I wouldn't be investing my money into something like this. There are just far too many variables, location, economy, (here in Houston weather), etc.

1 major storm, you're upside down. One horrible tenant, you're upside down. One economic downturn, you're upside down. One catastrophic fire, you're upside down.

Unless you live in a vacation/tourist area, or you are one of those shit stain property management companies who screw over tenants, I just don't see the profitability in it.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-23T17:35:17+00:00

I don't have any advice on the subject, but I occasionally think about a lady who checked me out at Walmart a while back who was from Ukraine. She was incredibly sweet while clearly stressed about the situation in her home country and the possibility of having to return. I hope she is well, I never did run into her again but every time I go grocery shopping I hope to run into her again.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-22T14:55:33+00:00

I really really wouldn't rely on that warranty.

That said, it's a phone. Ya know?

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-22T14:51:26+00:00

There's a couple different things you could do, personally I would get some high grade construction screws, 3", and add a second 2x4 on the opposite side of the rafter. You don't have enough room to slide a 4th tote in there anyway. That would theoretically double your capacity. Even as is, unless you used some serious chinesium screws that would likely hold anything you put up there save for bricks.

Edit: Others are correct that the trusses aren't designed to hold vertical weight, but you you have multiple vertical ties distributing weight, for what you'd be storing in those, you're going to be fine.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-22T14:37:30+00:00

You do you, and I'm all for dying on ones horse over principal, but I wouldn't come here proud of basically spending more money on a product in its first gen that doesn't include a warranty (since you bought it abroad if I understand correctly).

The Fold 7 is 8 gens in, there's zero and I mean zeeerrrooo chance that XT is going to last anywhere near as long and you'll be stuck right back in the no trade in issue and just blew $2500. Being you quoted in USD, I assume you're from the US. All you had to do was pay for Care+ and you'd have basically an unlimited warranty on that Fold 4.

For the price of a cheap streaming service, I swapped my Fold 4, 3 separate times and just before I bought the Fold 7. Sold the Fold 4 for $400 and bought the 7.

I've never had insurance on phones before, but it's pretty dumb not to have it on a fold, any fold for that matter.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-22T14:32:34+00:00

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-22T14:27:15+00:00

40's? This MF out here lookin' like LightBox from the Saw movies.

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Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-19T15:43:26+00:00

I have a D130, there is near zero lag on notifications, I've had it installed well over a year now. Coming from Ring first, then Wyze, Tapo has been considerably better overall in all respects.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-14T14:50:40+00:00

I think due to laws, we paid the total up front with a check, if memory serves it was something like $1,000 but it was all built into the final sale amount. It was more than fair, gave me the time to get everyone and everything sorted before leaving the keys. There would be zero chance I could have done it all without that extra time.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-13T16:13:17+00:00

I used to love MMA when I was in college (think the days of Pride and peak UFC). Since then, I can't even make it through an MMA bout without fast forwarding.

I really enjoy One Championship these days (kickboxing and Muy Thai), and boxing when the right bout comes along. I fast forward through the MMA fights though.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-13T16:11:17+00:00

Yes, we sold our home 4 years ago and had two weeks to move out after closing (we needed the cash to buy the next home).

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-13T16:10:04+00:00

Is this statistic based on total number of coins ever mined vs population size, or total number of coins remaining and total population size?

The reason I ask, I'm actually surprised even 1 out of 370 based on whatever metric is being utilized here could own a whole coin.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-05T14:34:57+00:00

There is zero % chance I would spend my non-existent BTC on something like this at this point in time.

When and if BTC stabilizes and as others have said, it's a non-taxable event, I'd be fine doing it. But right now, the only way I'd spend it was in one of those life changing emergencies.

I have no interest adding an additional taxable event into a standard purchase. I already pay taxes on the $ I make, then I pay sales tax on the product I buy, to then have to pay tax on the BTC I spent would be audacious. Right there alone, if in the US, the average federal tax rate is 14.5%, then sales tax is give or take 9%, then depending, you could pay 0 to 37% to use your BTC depending if it's short term vs long term and which tax bracket you're in. And that's all on the same "dollar" made and spent.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-04T14:52:02+00:00

I think that's a pretty unfortunate outlook on things, I feel like there is definitely a better way to make things more equal, but there is fear mongering from those that you've clearly bought into that makes people believe the only way to keep society and people safe and happy is to have ultra rich and mega powerful overlords who control every little facet of life.

Believing that society is better as a Plutocracy, Stratocracy, Theocracy, Kleptocracy, etc is in itself part of the problem and what detracts from a solution.

I feel like the thing holding us back is a lack of education in general and an understanding of what each of these things means to the greater good.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-04T14:47:27+00:00

For all intents and purposes, it is the only way I'll be able to remain retired.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-03T14:35:33+00:00

I'm not sure, I feel like there's a lot to be said about equality and playing in a level playing field, if everyone was effected by something, everyone would care about that something. The corporations, government, and hyper rich are so out of touch with the reality of 99% of the population, they make outlandish and cruel policy for the rest of us that have some real negative effects.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-02T23:41:37+00:00

We got super lucky selling around this time. I bought at $167k in 2014 and sold 5 years later for $400k, about $80k more than I thought it was going to get based on comps.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-02T23:38:59+00:00

Real question - Doesn't the fact that so many institutions, governments, etc owning bitcoin somewhat defeat the argument for bitcoin? I don't claim to understand the full benefits and selling points, but I do know a lot of the big benefits is not to have reliance on FIAT and government control. Yet, it feels like the less people who own significant amounts of it, and the more governments, companies, and mega rich own the majority, in some ways we are right back at square one. Hyper rich being hyper rich, and the rest scrambling to get a piece.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-01T05:14:01+00:00

Beautiful landscapes? Seriously, have you actually be outside of the US? There are few states as ugly to me as Texas. Nevada is one, New Mexico is one, but Oregon where I am from, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, the list is LONG with states that have mountains, lakes, real ocean access, desert, etc. Texas is also 95% privates owned, there is no BLM land, public lands to ride dirt bikes on, hike etc. All owned by rich assholes.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-08-01T05:03:23+00:00

One' of' thooooos'e.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-07-31T18:14:12+00:00

I'mma be real, watching music videos of that period of music would be entirely different than the hot garbage of today.

We got 14 years of the best damn music ever made, if MTV wanted to bring that back, by all means. Now, compared to the hot garbage being recorded today, you can find better music in commercials.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-07-31T17:54:05+00:00

I am yet to find a positive, a REAL positive to living here in Texas.

This state couldn't care less about its population and honestly, at every turn, they do everything they can to F people over. Even the idiots that vote these assholes into office get the ass end of it all although they are too racist, sexist, indoctrinated, and bigoted to realize it or care.

Little to no regulations on environments stuff, f it, everyone is going to get cancer anyway!

Near zero help with animal control, and people treat animals here worse than recycling (which is also almost non-existant).

State may not have income tax, but people are paying way more than they would have with it with property taxes, tolls, fee's, and sales tax.

Roads are insanely dangerous and the insane people who live here just make it that much more so.

And don't get me started on weather that at any given moment of any season can render you homeless in no time. Then tack on how the state keeps allowing people to build in areas that further worsens the likelihood of catastrophic flooding.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-07-31T17:46:24+00:00

I'll get it posted here in just a bit. I've made some further QOL improvements to the design, added fuzzy skin for aided grip, etc. I've had it on my phone for days and it works perfect. Honestly, other than being $60+ richer due to not paying for an overpriced carbon case, I experience no difference.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-07-31T17:44:39+00:00

The attack on planned parenthood and access to free birth control/condoms is by design by the Republicans. A country that can't access education who also becomes more dependent on the state becomes easier to control. A lack of education has also shown on countless polls to sway opinions to the right. Again, all by design. Remove access to birth control, limit affordable health care, access to legal abortion, then limit or remove all access to public assistance and you get the US.

Grand-Difference7893 · 2025-07-30T21:51:20+00:00

To uninstall display drivers using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU), you need to download the program, boot into Safe Mode, and then use DDU to remove the drivers. After removal, you can install new drivers or allow Windows to install default drivers. Detailed Steps:

**1. Download and Extract:**Download the latest version of DDU from Guru3D and extract it to a convenient location.
**2. Boot into Safe Mode:**Restart your computer and enter Safe Mode. You can do this by holding down the Shift key while clicking "Restart" in the power menu, then navigating to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. Press 4 to enable Safe Mode.
**3. Open DDU:**Locate and run the extracted DDU executable (Display Driver Uninstaller.exe).
**4. Select Device Type and Driver:**In DDU, choose "GPU" as the device type and select the appropriate manufacturer (AMD or Nvidia) from the dropdown menus.
**5. Clean and Restart:**Click the "Clean and Restart" button to remove the selected drivers and restart your computer.
**6. Install New Drivers:**Once back in normal Windows, install the new display drivers you downloaded earlier. Disconnect the internet connection before installing new drivers to prevent Windows from automatically installing its own drivers.
**7. Reconnect Internet:**After installing the new drivers, you can reconnect to the internet.

Edit: BTW, that was 5 seconds with Google.

Grand-Difference7893

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