It also taught me perseverance because there wasn't a ton of those deals just hanging out in Denver!

But how could I not be on edge when the entire deal, and our reputation, was hanging by a thread?

Curb appeal, neighborhood, etc.If you have a quality agent, they should point out potential problems like flooding, cracked foundations or walls, the neighbor's dead lawn, etc.

Don't go for low hanging fruit. 

Stop hanging out with your deadbeat buddies who spend all day drinking, talking sports, and otherwise wasting away.

There are animals on the walls everywhere and it is very distracting. 

so... that's $50K of your hard earned cash hanging out in your first property, and not much cash flow to show for it.  

Recently, my tenants have expressed concerns of people hanging out in the front of their units, creating some uneasiness - to the point where they want to exit their lease for safety reasons.

I ordered a 3rd party inspection and a list of items came back that needs to be (leaking pipe under sink, rodent infestation in the attic, downspout that needs securing, sewer vent pipe out to the attic, missing smoke detectors in a unit, loose material from basement wall which can compromise foundation if not fixed, etc...).

She has signed up for some of the events but I could see her potentially going to a few of the events and taking a few of them off just to hang out and network.