Then I feel like it’s money going to my pocket and not to other entities like mortgage company or power company.

I've heard of mentees who started cleaning up construction areas on a flip at the end of each work day or picking up supplies at Home Depot and delivering them to the job site.

But house hacking with a low down payment loan is a very, very powerful way to get started.

Wholesaling is a powerful tool when paired with private money.

This is how its done.As a rental rehabber (for my own portfolio) I just need; a decent handyman who can do simple electtrical fixtures, plumbing fixtures, fix leaks etc, an HVAC if I plan on replacing the system, a roofer if I need a roof (rarely), a painter, and a lawn guy to clean up the lawn.   

Being selective about when and how you respond is often more powerful than addressing every single critique.

Imagine giving me $20k and I give you $1,000/year back and in 10 years it “paid for itself”   You don’t use it for an investment  you use it to punish oil producing countries that hate us or to show your neighbors you’re better than them  :-)  Usually it’s a horrible plan for rentals because you either have to charge higher rent and include the electricity or charge a flat rate discouraging them from saving power.

The interior is still in great shape, but could use some cleaning. 

@Chris Piper  all do respect way to much info , to many spend so much time reading books watching videos, going to seminars, and building their " Power Team " .

Investors/Partners: Build a network of partners for joint ventures, sharing risk, and increasing buying power.5.