The BEST method for real estate investing is very simple: increase earnings, reduce expenditures, save, and invest from your own funds.You should focus on increasing earnings and learning how to manage your budget.

REI is filled with lots of shiny objects and you will success stories from all these different investing methods and it can be hard to stick to a path.

What are the best sources or methods you use to accurately set rental rates in your area?

So more Roth for way less in taxable income incurred. doing this is easiest in a Solo 401k if you qualify but can also be done using a checkbook IRA as well. check out this post that @Dmitriy Fomichenko made explaining this concept.https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/1223601-how-t... 

For all methods you would want to find a market that has strong employment rates, strong income rates for the market, and is a growing or an established market. 

OF COURSE the Contractor is going to say you need to tear it all out and rebuild the wall(s)  because that's the absolute easiest solution and adds additional work for him.

I've been previously working on acquiring single-family units via the house hacking method but this year, I'm shifting gears to take my goals to the next level. 

I picked up the BRRRR method book and feeling confident in setting it all up (we did a similar process for our Airbnbs).  

Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.

In some older neighborhoods especially historic districts, the tenants look for older houses - they preferred the art deco bathroom tiles, the thick plaster & lath walls over granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.but class D neighborhoods are easiest to tell.