But as I head into 2020 I'm working on completely overhauling my systems and processes to make the business run better and be less of a 'hamster wheel'. 

If no one bids you get the property back but you most likely are dealing with preservation, backtaxes, maintenance, utilities and realtor fees.If you have $5k currently to start, personally I think you are going to be spinning your tires as caught in the hamster wheel as you had noted the $ you spend on Due Diligence and operations and chasing notes (hours spent) is not worth the $500 you will make per year. just my 2 cents and others probably disagree, but I would recommend you buy a partial at 10% yield and not deal with the headaches.Target Property TypesThis should be based on $ value, size and location. 

But at the end of the day you are just a bigger hamster.

I rediscovered Realestate doubling down on what I learned through life and sorting out my network surprising how many people you can just accumulate on the hamster wheel of life that want you running along with them; then others who are really rockstars and looking forward  to you stepping off the wheel and happy you did.

IE once you go down the road of buying rentals and if you ever want to ACTUALLY exit without giving the portfolio to your kids or charity you have recapture.. so you can end up getting on the Hamster wheel. you end up having to stay in the asset class for fear of a huge tax payment.Now that all said diversification is something to look at maybe you spread your funds around to a few different investments don't put them all in one spot. 

I wish you luck in the future and hopefully she doesn't sneak in a hamster next. :)

Maybe you want a short flight so you want to look at Utah, Arizona, etc.Just don’t get stuck in the hamster wheel like many in BP do: Looking for that magic holy grail city that will have great cash-flow and awesome appreciation.

The financial engineers/central planners are to blame for this wealth disparity is responsible for forcing working class people to get on a hamster wheel they will never be able to exist, in my humble opinion.    

We won't be getting stuck in hamster wheel of Analysis paralysis but keep creating opportunities that will motivate us in our investing journey.

"Evil landlord forces tenant to cut tree, 800lb limb crushes neighbors house just missing children at play, neighbors now homeless living in car with no food to eat, pet hamster "hammy" is missing, children very sad."