If so, adding amenities that your ideal guest will find valuable = they'll pay more for it.

A separate bookkeeper is just as valuable.

As stated by one of the respondents, this is a valuable experience for future investments.

My biggest advice - take your time, do your research, and consider hiring a mentor.Check out the Rookie Podcast and forums on BP; you'll gain a lot of valuable insights from them.Wishing you success in your investing journey!

Close family that is trustworthy can be valuable because they can be your eyes of a property you don't live in. 

.✅ Hands-On Experience – If you plan to grow your real estate portfolio, managing tenants yourself can teach you valuable lessons about leases, maintenance, and local rental laws.✅ More Control – You’ll personally handle tenant screening, rent collection, and property upkeep, ensuring everything is done to your standards.✅ Stronger Tenant Relationships – Being involved directly allows you to build rapport with your tenants, which can lead to better communication and longer leases.Cons of Self-Managing❌ Time-Consuming – Dealing with maintenance requests, late-night emergencies, and tenant disputes can quickly become a second job.❌ Legal Risks – Chicago has strict landlord-tenant laws.

Posts like this are part of my journey to learn, network & connect with experienced professionals like yourself who have valuable insights to share.I also want to apologize for the late response—it’s been a busy few days, but I didn’t want to miss the chance to thank you for your input.Looking forward to learning & growing in this space & who knows, maybe one day I’ll be offering you in on an investment idea or I'll be the one offering advice to new investors!

You don't have to fit into a traditional "avatar" box to bring valuable insight, so don't sell yourself short. :)This is especially true if you rely on furnishedfinder.com as your primary lead source (which you shouldn't, but that's another post) as when you make that connection with a prospective resident, you are selling yourself as a landlord as much as you are the property as a place to live.

@Felicia Vinces it sounds like you missed our Year End Live show and Podcast of "Real Estate Notes Show' where 2 15 year experience note investors break down what makes a note valuable.  

It provides valuable market data that offers insights, unlike the free version that offers none.