Initially, all new residents stay for about 6 months in our largest home.

It’s the initial loan that’s more the issue.

Your initial post was unclear whether the water bill was $2k/month or if the balance was $2k because they weren't paying you for it.

That said, the initial investment might be higher, and managing an older property here could come with its own set of chalenges.Subs: Naperville, Glenview, and Oak ParkOn the other hand, suburbs like Naperville, Glenview, and Oak Park offer a different kind of stability.

Initially, I was hesitant about buying property due to the potential expenses, but I realized that approaching real estate as an investment could yield the financial freedom I’ve always aimed for.The Start of My JourneyIn December 2023, I decided to devote my spare time to real estate.

By year 5, I will have a 100% overall return on my initial investment of only $24k!

It's been ~6 months since the mayor did the initial sweep.

Sometimes business moves sort of suck for the tenant - but at the end of the day they have to be done because you are running a business, and not a charity. 

The owner had no clue and didn’t initial the “liquidated damages” clause.

It reduces risk by lowering your leverage, and once one property is paid off, that cash flow can then help pay down others even quicker.A balanced approach might be to focus on acquiring a couple of properties initially while keeping some reserves, and then reassess based on how things are going.