Scale Strategically (if this applies to your goals) Reinvest profits, use the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat), and leverage 1031 exchanges to grow your portfolio tax-efficiently.I'm a mortgage lender at Aslan Mortgage Lending and would love to find time to talk and discuss your journey.

I don't find even this split worth my time, even as a listing, on my last rental listing I was stood up well over a dozen times last minute!

@Alba Cheung It would be nice if you provided us with an update.

I find that most of the time, paying points up front isn't worth it in the end.

These properties can provide cash flow and diversification while qualifying for favorable residential loans.

While @Phillip Austin mentioned Raleigh is a higher returns its just very much a appreciation market, you will not find rentals that cashflow, so depending on your goals its a good or bad market.

If you can't find a good manager, walk away.

I've helped a lot of investors in your area, and I find that many of them end up purchasing rentals in the Central Valley for the very reason you mentioned.  

Cash flow is definitely the biggest challenge; both in terms of finding properties to buy that cash flow with a loan on them and just company wide given interest rates and labor/material is up and, at least where I'm at in Jackson County, MO, taxes are way up too. 

There is nothing you said that I find particularly scary.