On paper we were slightly in the red but much of that is due to one-year expenses/repairs & allowable transportation costs to get up to the property for work days ourselves. 

Ensuring transparency and efficiency in managing owner resources is critical1.Clear Communication on Costs: Provide owners with detailed breakdowns of repair costs and explanations for necessary expenses.

Seem like solid markets for the years ahead.

Think about capex and repairs. 

Without factoring in tax benefits and principal pay down, you're $1800 ahead of the game by house hacking.

Easier to predict expenses - typically no major repairs unless from association3.

. :)Anyway, I like your strategy of driving and looking for houses in need of repair and sending handwritten letters and contacting rentals for the reasons you gave.

After a few too many midnight leak repairs, she wanted to offload it but didn’t want a big tax hit.

But a heads up...the best financing on these types of properties is seller/owner financing.

Looking ahead to retirement for both of us, we would like to make a solid investment with few worries about weather events.