@Garry LawrenceDevin Moreno has a bunch of videos on rent-by-the-room strategy in Baltimore on hisYoutube channel.

Indeed, you can get higher returns than that in the stock market at the click of a mouse and, when investing internationally, you'd typically want a higher return than you can get domestically or in the stock market, unless you're mainly looking for diversification or parking your money.On another unrelated note, I love your latest podcast episode.

A tip is voluntary, so your tenant could agree up front, then refuse to pay.

With the numerous investors on this forum they have done this to, it is probably just the tip of the iceberg. 

Outside of West Oakland, what areas would you say are likely to go up in value over time - what pockets/neighborhoods are you looking at?

The quality of answers to your are directly correlated to the quality of your questions asked.  

Is this the case for all states?

Account Closed You can do automated lead generation in several ways, depending on whether you're looking for seller leads, buyer leads or private lender leads.Seller Leads: (1) Lead Swiper (online lead search with dozens of targeted searches), (2) Instant Leads -- direct access to listed properties nationwide with a click (3) OfferBot, automated offer making software (I use this every day) (4) Direct Mail Connect (upload your own list or use lists out of Freedomsoft) -- my team manages a ton of direct mail in my real estate business using this, (5) SMS lead generation (I use this every day)...and that's just scratching the surface.Buyer Leads: (1) Nationwide Cash Buyer database (millions of buyer records at the click of a mouse) -- including buyer name, address and all property addresses they've bought including closing dates and prices paid

Analyze the WHY behind your current investors reasoning for not partnering up with you.

Plus I would get some separation between the 2 stand ups.