I hope you find your way out of the rat race that 99% endure.

In some cases friends are enduring the pain. 

Without a strong foundation, nothing will endure!

Consider the trends, including employment and neighborhood aging.Then, learn and understand everything about the neighbors.Then, if you still consider the property to be an investment opportunity that meets your personal/business established risk and workload vs. reward standards, explore the subject property and make a list of all repairs and improvements deemed necessary to bring the property to an above average in the neighborhood - above average to better ensure an enduring investment.

I finally get him out without having to endure the entire eviction process.......

Thats relative, but what is true is tht you will have to endure a process.

Again, this is the research and sleuthing you need to do to make sure you are not being shown no-fee listings by a broker."

I then look at the area of town to see what is the expected tenant class (which normally means the amount of headache you would have to endure) in addition to all the other expenses. 

I was planning on looking at population trends, rent growth over time, and just doing a Google search for it's future and job prospects.Yeah, there's some sleuthing involved.

I am almost done with my Real Estate License coursework (a nice enduring pain) and am hoping to have the test completed by June/July 2014.We do not yet own any investment properties.