But, they will be in challenging parts of town where realistically you do not want to own property and your long-run returns will under-perform.I'd encourage you to find a balance of sub-market growth, nearby employment, strong income, and only then a good rent-to-value ratio. 

The more you say, the more they can challenge you if it comes to that. 

The challenges in real estate teach you invaluable lessons that you might not gain otherwise.I also invest in Chicago, so I have a few thoughts in response to the questions you raised.

or “What has been the biggest challenge for you as a new investor?”)

Licensed with permits ~$4,000.Full replacement of all water supply lines and shutoffs from the interior water meter with PEX and an open basement.  1 kitchen 1 bath 1 laundry. 

Due to inflation and the drastic increases in material, labor, and supplies, that's naturally caused carriers to rethink limits/values on file. 

.: Hi there,I have an investment property in Atlanta and over the past year, the property had major challenges due to squatters.

Challenges?

See the chart from Fair Isaac Company (FICO) below: FICO Score Pct of Population Default Probability 800 or more 13.00% 1.00% 750-799 27.00% 1.00% 700-749 18.00% 4.40% 650-699 15.00% 8.90% 600-649 12.00% 15.80% 550-599 8.00% 22.50% 500-549 5.00% 28.40% Less than 499 2.00% 41.00% Source: Fair Isaac CompanyAccording to this chart, investors should use corresponding vacancy+tenant-nonperformance factors of approximately 5% for Class A rentals, 10% for Class B and 20% for Class C.To address Class C payment challenges, many industry "experts" are now selling programs to newbie investors about how Section 8 tenants are the cure.

. • Documentaries: Check out The Queen of Versailles for insights into the challenges of hotel investments. • Podcasts: The BiggerPockets Commercial Real Estate Podcast has episodes on niche asset classes, including hotels.