I think when you start you need to make sure you work with people who are reliable.

Be sure to do a thorough credit and background check, as well as a residence and employment verification. 

They will be your most reliable tenant.

On the flip side, if you've got a bunch of Section 8 tenants living in a building that's in a neighborhood where a lot of the tenant base has good jobs, high credit scores, and are generally reliable people, you've got the most risky tenants in that tenant base and that ain't what ya want.

For example, the most important job of a property manager is securing reliable tenants—those who stay for many years, always pay rent on time, and take good care of the property.

Sometimes, the more old-school approach like posting on local community boards can help you find reliable tenants.

There are plenty of banks across the US that also have a stated income heloc (in the Carolinas, First Citizens will do up to $100k with no income verification). 

These methods include: Detailed Engineering Cost ApproachDetailed Engineering Cost Estimate ApproachSurvey or Letter ApproachResidual Estimation ApproachSampling or Modeling ApproachExperience or “Rule of Thumb” ApproachIt’s important to understand the differences between the approaches including which one best fits your property and the reliability of each approach.DETAILED ENGINEERING COST APPROACHThis approach compiles the costs from construction and accounting reports to build a report.

Diversifying geographically can also reduce risk and increase long-term returns.For example, there are several markets across the U.S. that are ideal for new investors because they offer affordable entry points, reliable cash flow, and strong economic fundamentals.

Is there a reliable source to get this information from other than agents?