Passive income was one of the biggest reasons for my second acquisition, I am trying to build a nest egg for my future self.

If you can get into some properties in Salem or Nashua that might make sense too but the tax bill might eat a good portion of your profits. 

Even if you don't like it that much, you eat it because it's free

The fees can dip into your profits and eat at your cash flow.For older homes: The upside is they offer the chance for more cash flow and equity through smart upgrades.

Take it on the chin and eat the 3 years of holding costs and increase in construction costs?

This gives much better diversification protection across geographies, asset types, strategies, investment subclasses etc. versus putting all the eggs into one basket.The downside is that it's not for everyone, and a person has to be comfortable with turning over control to someone else.

My turnover costs with LTR eat me alive, so I'd rather spend a bit upfront and just keep it nice.

Don't just eat up everything you read and hear.Start asking questions instead of taking everything for face value. 

At least the government wants to keep interest rates down so government interest payments don't eat all government income, but that may mean they don't raise them enough to keep inflation under control.

Typically, maintenance & repair expenses may eat up the couple of thousand you earn annually in the early years.