It's been a while since I've blogged on my real estate business.  It's been a struggle lately and I've pondered on what to do next. 

I've gotten many of the houses that I had empty (all at one time) filled.  That is a good thing because paying all of those mortgages out of my own pocket was about to sink me.  I still have two left.  One, I just finished fixing it back up after 2 year term on renters and looking for someone to move in.  I hope to fill this house this month, which would be helpful on paying another mortgage payment.

The last house is a lease option on my part.  I put about $12K in it to fix it up, and a family moved into and trashed it.  Their down payment was paid (to move in) by their church so they had no personal investment into the home and totally trashed it.  It needs about $4k MORE to fix it up again.  They had only lived in there for about 8 months.  (6 paying rent and the rest, me trying to get them out).  At this point, the fixing up part is going to push any profit into selling the home, unless I hold it long term until it's value catches back up to where it was when I optioned the place.  I could always give the house back to the owners, but I don't like going back on my word.  When I option a place to buy it,  I intend on buying it.

I need some real advice from investors.  The budget has ran out (paying mortgages, fixing a burned down home and 4 other homes to be rentable again), cards are maxed out and things like flood insurance and higher taxes are decreasing the profit that I am making from cash flow with renters. 

What would you do?  Where would you go with this?  I have the two houses on the market to sale, (with a contract that if I find a rent to own or a renter, I can cancel the contract). 

I would really love to hear advice from different investors here on the site.  I need REAL advice that can help me turn around this low spot I've been going through and get back on top of the game again.

thanks... I look forward to hearing from you!