This will make it a lot easier to manage, will cost you less than buying on the market and typically you can get 1:1 rent returns.

Trying to get a split level (not a lot of sqft) on the market in the next three weeks and trying to decide on whether to open the wall between the dining and living room for a feel of openness or leave it as I have heard from two interior designers that the open concept is on the way out as we are more at home and liking our separate areas in the home.Pragmatically speaking the opening of the wall will be mostly a time drain with it being a load bearing wall and having to support the ceiling while rebuilding and all the drywalling necessary.

-Interest rate of 5% is much lower than market interest rates. 7-8%+-There are no capex reserve considerations included. 5% is a starting point.

I have been investing in the stock market for 5 years and I am now transitioning over to real estate after doing my research on real estate for the past two years. 

The simplest way is to base it on the market temperature of whatever city you’re researching.

I'd be happy to visit about the market.  

@Jonathan LudizacaIt really depends on the market.

Study the market.

It sounds like mistakes were made on the properties but I'm also questioning the market (you didn't say where these are). 

I live and invest in the Lafayette area myself - I own several in the area - broussard, freetown, broadmoor etc There's a decent market here, I think it's somewhat competitive but there is some availability as wellOff-market is the way to go 100%Purchasing a starter home is a great way to get started - I turned my first home into a rental before I even looked into real estate investing.