We have 3 rental properties that produce 8k monthly in total on average.

Rents and property values rise pretty steadily in our market at a rate about 2-3X the national average.

For example, if you are an active investor you can still find deals but they may not have quite as high of returns as we had become accustomed to in the previous years on average.

Here’s how you can approach both issues:For rent comparables, since RentCast and Rentometer are giving you different results, the best way to narrow them down is by averaging the estimates and focusing on properties that closely match the one you’re analyzing in terms of size, number of units, and amenities.

In general, the booking lead time has been the lowest in years though (used to average around 40-45 days now its about 25-30 days) but our occpuancy rates are still as high as ever. 

For someone that's not as conservative, or a different view on the cycle, they might have a different opinion than me on all of this.2) Sponsor quality check: (takes about 45 minutes per deal)I believe that a great sponsor can take an average looking deal and make it great, and that in mediocre sponsor can take a fantastic looking deal and make it bad (especially if there is a severe recession).

Knowing this information will help you identify the right professionals to bring on board.At minimum, your team team should include:Financial Advisor: to help with investment strategies - portfolio diversification and risk management.Real Estate Agent/Broker: to help with property acquisition and market analysis.Accountant or Tax Advisor: to help manage financial records, tax planning, and optimization.Attorney: to provide legal counsel for contracts, agreements, and investment structures.Mentor or Coach: to offer guidance, insights, and industry knowledge.Networking and Relationship Builder (for everything else you will need): to connect you with potential partners and collaborators.

You are wise to limit your scope to a particular type of company.I have been in the industry for the past two decades, and from my years in the business, I can recommend a couple of other companies outside of my family. 

Just get it rented at least twice and keep the average stay at 7 days or less for each.

The best way to leverage 80k in this industry is based off of your skill set.Are you handy?