This strategy can help reduce utility expenses.Mid-term and short-term rentals can have utility costs up to 10% of gross income, including electricity, water, gas, cable, lawn care, and pest control.

And a few who do real, sustainable business.For an industry that loves to hate on agents, it's remarkable how most of them earn less, and do nothing compared to their peerset who simply get licensed. 

Without positive reviews, you often have to reduce rent to obtain tenants.  

Same as if it was bank-financed.However, make sure that you can in fact reduce your taxes by rental losses.

Here are some thoughts on your plan: Cost Savings: Doing the majority of the renovations yourself can significantly reduce costs.

Early Financial freedom will forever elude the person earning a middle class income, but who is unwilling to do some combination of quitting their job for something much higher risk/reward, like starting a business, drastically cutting back on expenses, etc.

But such things as I've stated above (and a whole lot more that would require I write a book) will greatly reduce the likelihood of a bad rental outcome.

Alternatively, negotiate a credit at closing for the roof cost, reducing the purchase price, or arrange seller financing for the roof.

This will reduce your footprint and units.  .5 acres is a really small footprint. 

This loss will be active and therefore reduce my W2 active income taxes.