Dividends give you cash flow but usually very little.With Real Estate, you make money 4 ways:- Appreciation (forced vs natural).

The idea of even a little bit of debt makes my skin crawl and want to run for cover. 

I am being told in a specific instance that copies of leases are not provided to owners because the legal binding agreement is between the property manager and the resident.In this case, I would have zero visibility on the nature of the lease terms, as well as who is responsible for certain costs borne (utilities, etc)If this exclusion to owners is allowed, what is required in terms of document retention in the case of termination of relationship?

Real estate is by nature a very local business.

Based on the conversation my realtor had with the seller's agent, the family selling the home is humanitarian in nature and would like to "help a family."

@Tim Kaminski, Using the 1031 exchange will allow you to exit your older Pinellas properties and purchase newer properties elswhere that are not as big a risk from capital expense or natural disaster. 

Most likely the state where the property is located is where lawsuits would be brought if they are something for personal injury like a trip and fall or something of that nature because the “cause of action” arose in that state.

If you examine all of these questions, which we all read every day, there are a couple of apparent things missing that make them impossible to answer:1. skin in the game2. research done before posting3. why the poster is asking (background)4. camaraderie (just give me what I want, I have nothing to offer)

Gas (natural or propane)I pay $100 a month for liability insurance.

Both of these may impact your DTI.One of the difficulties in holding properties for a long time is that equity builds up (either naturally or by forcing with renovation), and I need to sell or refinance to get the equity.