Even if the return is a lower, having someone you can trust is worth its weight in gold. 

Those all get your set up for success and are focused on RE.Most agents fail because they are looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow first, but never set up mindset and systems to help them grow to get there.

I’m going to tell you a secret... skip tracing is worth it’s weight in gold.

Take a listen to Millennial Real Estate Investor podcast episode 102 - GOLD!!

The Gold Line (Metro) can take you to DT LA.

This was assured in 1913 with the creation of the Fed and accelerated when Nixon took us off the gold standard in 1971.The important question is how long will the dollar remain a viable currency?   

This is part of the gold that your broker can help you refine.Note --> Realtor Police, please note that the following is an open discussion for illustrative purposes, not a recommendation of commissions or anything like that. 

You then treat the tenants like gold and they won't mind paying more when their lease is up and they end up staying long term which is what you want.

I would also avoid gold, as it's not a great investment, barely above inflation in most cases over long periods.

So if you are not cash flowing now, you very likely will in a year or two ESPECIALLY if willing to put some sweat equity, creativity, a bit of money & time.Advice from other areas doesn't apply here so well - we are almost a different country with different concentration of realtors; investors; and CASH buyers (either 1st or 2nd in the country - consistently).As you stated yourself, almost everyone knows they are sitting on gold...