Most of the US real estate market has seen inventory continue to rise with a lot of relisting and stale dated listings, but Valdosta seems to be a “Great White Buffalo” (if you get the movie reference).

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

Being a part of the local REIAs in both towns can help you understand more of what is going on.  

BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy.

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

As you guide landlords through that stressful process, you can introduce how your tenant screening and management services help prevent future issues.2.Focus on Rental Listings as a Lead Source•A highly effective way to grow your PM business is to actively market rental vacancies for landlords.

Those can indicate poor management, deferred maintenance, difficult and expensive upkeep like ocean front which will bring up issues with rising oceans, insurance, and hurricanes. 

Talk about aiming high, right?

And DIY repairs are not recommended for other reasons: it will take you much longer to complete, depriving you of rental income, and you run a high risk of your wife becoming your ex-wife.Same risk exists if you push your wife into becoming a Realtor or some other real estate activity just for the sake of tax benefits.

And if it's a high amount, would you be better off just using that as a downpayment and get a standard new investment loan?