Xero has a more user-friendly interface, and it's easier to learn how to use.

You aren't going to find discussions about what you say you want to talk about in "General Landlording & Rental Properties," but you can search the forums for what you're looking for or choose a more appropriate topic to start a post with more specificity so the volunteers here can help you. 

Can you just use a more common living revocable trust? 

It is a more competitive market than Findlay

GCs often only bring in sub-crews and they charge a more of a management fee to "manage" the project.

I agree long game is a more secure way to go but it is a hard sell.

But accompanying a more measured tone was also the noticeable maturation of thought around the still developing SFR and BFR asset classes.

A more financially stable, long term investor can see the long term appreciation play without the need for the cash-flow.  

Not all investors share the same goal.If it's strictly positive cash flow, you're going to have a tough time meeting that goal while living in one of the units these days in Belmont Shore.Under the current economic decisions, if you're going to live in one of the units, a more realistic goal might be to subsidize your mortgage with the other two incomes to bring your mortgage payment down, build equity, ride the market appreciation, force some appreciation of your own, refinance when rates are in your favor to crush the mortgage payment down, and keep positive cash flow for a long-term goal.Belmont Shore is a nice area where homes hold their value well and enjoy good appreciation as well as strong rents and in general, the type of renters landlords are looking for.Belmont Shore is also a good area for short-term rentals and you may want to consider renting one unit as an LTR and the other as an STR.Ultimately, your situation is going to dictate whether this triplex is a good investment for you and your husband but as a Long Beach resident, I know that Belmont Shore is an area that people aspire to buy a home in.

A more supportive argument would be to show a rolling 5-year or 10-year average index that tracks values.