Rental properties will always be a good investment, WHEN purchased at the RIGHT price, when held long term, when located in at least a DECENT location, and when the owner has the financial staying power to weather an economic EVENT.  

While the latter may seem more economical, it's only viable if your property has sufficient space for a new leach field.

Still learning for now and saving up so I can do it right.Scaling fast food with a full-time job is not easy (like you said, if someone calls in sick you gotta show up) but after diving into the economics it isn't worth it IMO if you don't scale. 

The most successful real estate investors buy deals in all economic market conditions.

Ongoing population growth, a thriving tech scene and strong economic factors point towards potential value increases down the line.

- Don’t Get Screwed by a Shiesty Contractor- The Bottom LineThe Weekly 3: News and Data to Keep You Informed- The US population should outgrow most global economic peers.

Think about things like population trends, job growth, and the region's general economic health.Risks: Understand the risks associated with investing in an unfamiliar market.

Completing some renovations does not always make sense economically (price you put in not worth the price you get out). 

At least you aren't looking at economic indicators... 

The biggest economic report to move MBS yesterday was the ISM Non-Manufacturing report.