Even though we live in earthquake country, this was a new experience for us.

A PMC is the ONLY one that will deal daily with your property.Here's some copy & paste advice on hwo to screen PMCs:Recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

(or if they're primary buyers, they don't care about yield, since they're going to live there.)i just went to visit two very distressed properties yesterday that i would buy.... if they were priced 50% lower.  

The wear/tear is much less for STR because the guests do not live their full-time.   

My name is Montse, I’m originally from Spain, and I currently live in the Netherlands.

Financial freedom isn't simply about replacing your current income, because inflation continuously drives up prices, making a fixed income insufficient to maintain your standard of living.

P.S; We live in Wilmington NC so both markets would be "long distance" P.S.P.S there are no reasonably priced multi family properties local to us.

You want to focus on areas where you have a competitive advantage (you have lived there or you have family and friends there) and then compare those areas against widespread list of great areas to invest.Good luck!

Seems 98% of them just want to take a picture holding a big key sign and promote their business on social media.

In Florida where I live that amount is the first $50,000 for a married couple are exempt.So to put all that into action, let's say the previous owner paid $100,000 for the property 20 years ago and lived in the property.