Quote from @Dustin Wilkes: Well hello there everyone.  

We walked through a property that we went into thinking we were not going to like it and we ended up loving it and jumping on it pretty quickly after because the seller was getting other cash offers and the price/location/set-up of the property just fit our situation well. 

They want someone who is physically local that can be responsible for issues that come up.If you are required to hire a property manager anyways, might as well just pay them to do the tenant placement.  

If I am hell bent on renting by the room (I don't think that is a good LONG-TERM strategy, will elaborate later), I can do that on both sides of my duplex as well.  

We stick to high quality neighborhoods and homes and are doing really well with it.

Well, this article says otherwise. 

If they can manage them well, then no problem.

We negotiated a deal with the owner for 20% Equity, we are responsible for infilling the community as well as property management (which we also get paid separately for).

Lots of opportunity to find mismanaged multis as well where the older mom and pop landlord has rents way below market and can come in and increase NOI just by getting units up to market rent and maybe doing some cosmetic rehabs as tenants move out.Value add multi is what I prefer and think works best here but that's with me being here boots on the ground and being more active with it.

If you are looking to do real estate sales as well you may want to find a brokerage that hires for both at the same time, and check their credibility.