I'd love to start hosting asap and I wouldn't allow the guests access to the kitchen (though of course they'd have access to their rented rooms, bathroom etc.).

If you are able to actively use the funds I would say start a real estate marketing company with it. 

@Cyndi Lees the thing that catches my eye in your post is that it would require quite a bit of work to get it started as a rental.

if you are looking for advice, you are in the right forum. start reading and grow

When the plumber removed the cleanout cap, water started coming out.

Hi @Gil Canfu definitely there are many places in DFW where you can invest in a good rental property.I am not sure where you are at, but if self managed you should start in cities with good proximity to where you live.All the corridor between Princeton to Saginaw has good deals but there are many others things to consider as I mentioned previously.

Probably starting out small Jaycee - SF or maybe some smaller duplex type properties.

I would start there and think of anything that I could do to stay in the house for a while as it sounds like you would be losing a bit of money with the other options. 

If you ask the manager to justify a fee and he starts hemming and hawing, move on or require them to remove the fee.

@Abigail Kingprimarily off market although, i've started to engage on on-market deals if i think they will fitvery difficult to find