by the way I have a property with a tree trimming cost of $70/month (not the regular gardening costs but the cost to come trim the trees (some annually, some every 5 years).  

Hang out in the back yard and pretend you're the gardener.. :)

The water company will not go inside the house to check these things - all they do is watch the reading on the water meter.If I could get access to the house,  I would go around the house and make sure all the faucets are turned off - kitchen sink, bathroom sink, tub/shower, laundry sink (if it has one), refrigerator icemaker connection, outdoor garden hose connections, drain valve on water heater, etc. 

Maybe gardeners, housekeepers, pet sitters?

I agree with all of you that seller financing sounds very attractive.I do some small-time farming in that I have four horses and raise a garden.

Its hard to grow a garden from across the world and especially when starting in real estate it requires our time to be invested.

Closest place to the Garden of Eden (lots of eels but NO snakes) that I have ever spent.BUT being from Australia I couldn't get used to the black sand beaches, but the 20 ft waves were amazing.

I've surrounded it with dirt and rocks and plants--a rock garden.

Holmes Gardens seems like a C+ / B- neighborhood with a mix of folks who have relatively low income jobs (grocery clerk, section 8, mechanic, etc.), lots of families, kids running around, quiet neighborhood.Average rent per unit at time of purchase is $585.

I could use the side lots for gardens while renting out the homes.