That will likely make the biggest difference on if it cash flows or not.

in a stick frame market and one of the cheapest markets to build we build with margin at $190 or so a square foot. that will go up over time about 5% or 10% a year to keep up with new build price increases. we are buidling a 3 story walk up and source some of the lowest priced crews.

.: There are sources to obtain the financing you want to buy more property.

For most, this isn't a realistic option so they update some of the most important regions themselves and copy the data from other providers where they don't have coverage.This is a big problem with these big consumer-grade real estate analytics platforms—you don't really know the source of that data, its frequency, etc.

Echo this and add other sources like Zillow or Houzz...really great to get ideas, for free!

The process seems daunting and overwhelming, and I am not confident I will put the time in to talk to sources, analyze, and find properties for investing purposes. 

But in general, your biggest risks are not necessarily what's the maximum rent you can get, but can you find a reliable tenant that will always pay and pay on-time.

@Tamika Davis One of the biggest advantages of most software on the market is to complete these tasks you mention (maintenance, leases, rent collection, etc). 

Biggest lesson I learned in this experience is to tell EVERYONE what you are doing/trying to do.

Are there any tips you might have on sourcing great deals, deal structure, and how to know whether LTR, MTR, or STR is the best route to take?