You get so much wealth and start getting older you enjoy the business but focus on quality of life more and memories. 

I talked to numerous California investors in real life and phone/Zoom calls who have lost money in far away OOS markets, mostly Midwest markets (e.g. repairs, capital expenses, bad tenants, properties vandalized while under renovation, evicted tenant stole all the appliances, property managers with high fees or overcharging for repairs).

Lets say you have 3 rentals that rent for $1000/month and you cash flow $300/monthEach month you have GROSS rents of $3000/month or let's say $2500/month after paying PM costs, repairs, etc....BEFORE you pay the mortgage.If you get the rents on 1st of the month and you pay down $2500 into the HELOC, but you don't have to pay the mortgage ($1600) until 15th of the month.NOw you have paid down principle in the amount of $2500 for the first 15 days and $900 for the next 15 days.If you use the traditional method, you only have $900 extra money that you may or may not use to pay down your loans.   

Other than that, the city is largely residential with many jobs focused around providing for those residential needs such as the service industry sector, home repair, construction, etc.

I wouldn't use them to complete the job, they've already shown they aren't doing quality work.

They're shady builders with poor quality construction.

For me personally I am not handy when it comes to repairs and such.

A nice but rental quality unit gets 1500-1650 regularly in that area depending on the size and finishes.

Also, where can I buy low cost blinds that are decent quality? 

Yes, prices are high, but there is good potential for appreciation, and tenants are generally reliable and high quality.