For his firm, he has chosen to be compensated by managing traditional investment portfolios, so anyone using annuities would take away from his potential AUM so he tries to attract and convert them. 

This not only boosted my confidence but also made me more marketable in my chosen field.Supportive Community: SubTo Mentorship introduced me to a community of fellow mentees who were just as passionate and driven as I was.

So I would educate them on the fact that they were given a gift for many years, and now that you have finally chosen to raise rents to market (so that you can make the profit that you deserve) they will have to wait for a year so that you can put aside some of your new (and well deserved) rent increase to pay for their nrew floor.

@Craig Imazumiare you going to go to your chosen market in person and and put some time, legwork and networking in?

However, if you’re committed to a specific suburban area, working closely with a local agent who knows the market well could be invaluable.Working with an Agent: Starting with a knowledgeable agent in your chosen market can definitely help streamline your efforts and prevent that analysis paralysis.

For all you know, the owner's late mother may have lovingly chosen the décor.

Regarding the most effective way to scale a real estate portfolio, it really depends on how passive you'd like to be, your chosen market/s and risk tolerance. 

@Tim Phillips I'd agree with your friends - rentals within driving distance are significantly easier to manage as well as decrease risk during the purchase process (because you can go see the property in person easily).I'd advise you to analyze as many properties as possible in your chosen market so that you have a good feeling for what a good deal in whatever market you pick is.

@Josh Aljets This is why you need to get super familiar with the market you have chosen to invest in and not just buy random things you see all over the country.

In my experience, why we are chosen in our market comes down to the reputation we have built for ourselves.