Stock indices have withheld the test of time, that's where I've placed my savings as I wait to gather enough knowledge/cash to invest in a property. 

This family is currently searching for a home, and our agent, who also represents them, has generously offered to waive any commission for connecting us.After outlining our standard tenant qualifications—which encompass application requirements, income verification, rental history, credit score, background checks, a non-smoker policy, occupancy guidelines, pet policy, application fees, and move-in costs—our agent indicated that the extensive discussions and adherence to these requirements "equals a full commission of one month's rent."

Zillow is not always the best indicator of market value. 

Increased investment and job creation in some sectors indicate economic progress, however, the long-term sustainability of these efforts remains uncertain. 

You do not indicate the area of Florida. 

One other thought - I've successfully added a clause in the lease that indicates if I have to go to court and get a judgement to collect money for anything, the tenant is on the hook for 7% per year interest on that amount.

Instead of focusing solely on debt amount, assessing the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is more indicative of a tenant's ability to manage rent payments.

Keep an eye out for indicators of population increase or steady housing demand.The BRRRR approach may be appropriate for older properties, particularly if they require renovations.

It's not a perfect system, but past behavior is a great indicator of future behavior. 

As a Cap Rate is indicative of the risk involved in owning the property, you want to focus on doing things that make your investment less risky if a bank ever had to take over.You can make your investment less risky by doing some of the following things:- Convert all month-to-month tenants to annual leases- Implement strict minimum rental criteria- Add security cameras- Make large capital and preventative improvements (fix drainage issues, install water pressure regulators, replace old HVACs...you get the picture)- Essentially, prove with action that you are caring for the property on a long-term basisThe only way this is effective is if you document everything you are doing as well.