I am based in NOLA and have a great property manager.

But what I will say is that he is a disastrous relationship manager.

Hi Karen, Have you tried reaching out to any other local investors or property management companies? 

If you’re feeling uneasy about the potential headaches, you might consider a local property manager who specializes in room rentals or shared housing.

As others have said, the best thing your son can do is run far from this deal, buckle down, save his pennies (he probably already is doing this), house-hack, and improve a property with sweat, hard work, developing a DIY skillset, and self-managing tenants. 

Working with a property manager will give you a lot of hands-on experience in the day-to-day of managing properties. 

Spend a little more money than you might have been planning to, buy in a better area (i.e. not a “turn key” 100k house off the mls), and self manage.

We just started managing 4 tiny homes on 1 lot with a shared pool and they are booking great at a rate commensurate with larger homes.   

Real estate transactions with non-profit organizations like nursing homes or religious entities can indeed be unique, but they’re often manageable with the right approach.

From what I've heard, local banks are sometimes more flexible than the big guys.A buddy of mine managed to snag a HELOC on his rental property, which isn't always straightforward, but it opened doors for him.