Additionally, take some time to drive around your neighborhood and gather information on recently sold properties within a mile radius.

If you do call them best case scenario you get the listing, sell their home and end up with some additional buyer clients that did not end up buying this particular house.

My best understanding from talking to reps is they have one local employee (in addition to vendors like cleaners, landscapers...) per 10 listings/properties. 

Additionally, the Villages are close by and with an aging population it attracts a lot of healthcare field workers.Now, with a lot of rental properties you may run into slightly longer vacancy periods if you have a unit turn at the same time as others, but generally speaking renter demand is solid. 

I have about $100k in capital reserves and can leverage the 2 properties for additional capital, as needed.

Paid platforms often offer additional features like market analytics, off-market property leads, and filters for investor-specific criteria, giving them a leg up over free options.Exactly, most platforms have to offset cost somewhere because of how expensive it is to keep the data up to date.

A clean, neutral-looking curb gives prospective homebuyers a chance to visualize their own additions/upgrades.

Additionally, your brother would inherit your cost basis in the property, which could result in significant capital gains tax if he sells the property later.

You can surely buy cheaper properties and obtain the same debt pay-down, but now you've got 5x the head-ache, so right asset class is more about efficiency when it comes to debt pay-down.Tax shielding is similar concept in that more expensive properties directionally give you more building basis to depreciate, which means less net income to tax.

Additionally, make sure you’re familiar with local property laws and any regulations that could impact your investment.I agree with @Jason Wray that you can easily find a cash flowing deal under 200k.