I cleaned it up, booted the fat slob with the illegal dog, got some good people in there, had two run-ins with the local meth heads that left one in handcuffs and made friends with all the beat cops.  

 $700 per month would be huge fat city living for me, as well as it would help me pull all the dents out of my credit in a short year.

Sorry, fat fingers!

Ideally this person would also be able to assist in managing the project itself" Sounds to me that what you are looking for is an active partner "contractor" that will do all the thinking and work wile you collect the big fat checks at the Caribbean sipping on fruity drinks.  

That money being spent to replace the furnace that just went out, now becomes and investment into a higher efficiency furnace which will lower cost for the next renter.The cost to replace the old almond or white fridge now can be used to buy the stainless steel fridge that will maybe help raise rents.The cost of new carpet / updated flooring will also drive value up in your investment for future tenants or future owners.If you don't have the property, that money isn't being spent on a forced re-investment into your property.  

residential* Have fat fingers this morning 

It's going to be a long read, but I'll try to trim the fat as much as possible.Right out of high school, I got a full-time job.

The challenge in southern CA is Hispanic nepotism, La Raza movement is alive and well, or not speaking Manderin Chinese, its increasingly a requirement sadly.So yeah, I won't quit looking for the right opportunity in sales, like solar, or getting a cushy government job with benefits, but the private sector has a big fat target on human labor due largely in part to the Affordable Care Act requirements.

I'm just starting out in my career in commercial real estate (corporate gig) and my pockets aren't fat enough (yet) to start buying my own properties.

Must have fat-fingered that one.