Quote from @Nicole Heasley Beitenman: When I was starting, I found a resource in FF that suggested pricing $300-500 above LTR rates.

Any suggestions on that?

My suggestion is to get them going in that route, buy a house they like, can afford, and see themselves in for 7-10 years + and then get going with paying it down.

If you are looking to be an investor then I would suggest you don't be an agent that is a poor mans game and it will make it way more difficult to find deals. 

So, you go over budget FAST.So, your Scope of Work (SOW) MUST be very specific as Mr Perez learned when contractor didn't put in new outlets.To "perfect" your SOW, suggest you walk the property with 3 contractors and ask them what needs to be done.

A friend of mine suggested that I consider beginning to invest in small multifamily in Belleville, IL market.

I’m not sure how investors are managing their properties from a different state when it seems to be impossible to find a reliable good property management company in Cahokia, do you have any advice or suggestions on this?  

For the immediate time, I'd love any contractors and handymen suggestions, but eventually, to work with agents to buy and sell in the area. 

Frozen puke in the toilet etc.Any suggestions?

Or the owner is incapacitated in some fashion.