I literally don't expect to speak to my tenants more than once a quarter. 

I can't speak to Richmond, but when I started out I was able to get referrals to a good agent from a real estate investor group in my area. 

Better to have your own property manager use trusted handymen to take care of the issues for long term/quality fixes. 

After spending hours on due diligence and speaking with two different attorneys.

Signs of this are poor lease quality, maybe M2M tenants, high expenses (unnecessary things like high trash bills, internet, cleaning, security).

House hacking cash flow increases depending on how little space you can live in for a year (or more).I can't speak to Minneapolis inventory directly, but multi inventory is low in a lot of places.

Strong property management and careful tenant placement also play a critical role in success here, so I recommend partnering with a turnkey company or an agent who specializes in these areas to make the process smoother.As for rental demand, homes that sit for extended periods are often the result of issues like pricing, condition, or tenant quality—not necessarily a reflection of the market as a whole.

Just speak to your broker about it and they should be able to give you some easy solutions.

Expect to spend a considerable amount of your time speaking to people.Expect to work dozens of hours/week with little to no immediate result.Expect most of your early interest from potential clients to come from your sphere of influence.Expect to go 3-6 months without getting paid (unless you do rentals which usually pay faster)Expect to be bombarded with distractions - mainly, people/companies marketing to you so that you choose their system for quick and easy buyer or seller leads.

I plan to head to the area in the beginning of December and would love to use the time I spend there to speak with lenders, property managers, etc. to make a more educated decision.