The repair was extensive and costly, requiring excavation (about 3x6 feet) to replace the broken section and clean up the mess.

@Tiffani HollisFor a long-term rental, I’d avoid used dishwashers entirely—repair costs and reliability issues often outweigh the savings.

Housing prices are high, mortgage rates are high, and competition is fierce so revenue is way downIt’s one thing if you bought a while back like many of us did, so your cost basis is much lower.

This keeps your cost basis and deferred gains intact while offering liquidity and flexibility—you can sell shares gradually to spread out taxes and still receive passive cash flow, often exceeding current rental yields.A pure DST strategy can also work for passive income, but as you noted, not all DSTs are created equal.

I cook my own food, can I bill myself for that and write off all my food costs? 

I have other money that'll cost me 10%.

It’s crucial to ensure that your cash reserves can cover not only the mortgage but also unexpected expenses during the remodel.The 30% housing rule is a helpful guideline to avoid overextending yourself, and ideally, you should be comfortable with your monthly housing costs even without rental income.

Mind you, she used a legal aid attorney, so he didn’t cost her anything.

Utilities cost $150 per month.

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.