We expect someone commenting on how great life insurance investments are  to reveal if he’s an insurance salesman, and someone who suggests buying property in Cleveland is great to reveal they’re a Cleveland based real estate broker.  

This trend of rising rents is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

That said, expect to deal with a fair amount of fluff leads.The two best strategies I’ve found are inbound methods: direct mail and Google Ads.As you mentioned, direct mail can be expensive, but it can also result in highly discounted properties.Regarding SEO, while it’s a valuable strategy, it’s not necessarily "cheap."

Tenants are expecting working plumbing and electrical.

@Taylor Dasch, I think it will depend on the market you select (always should run the numbers yourself as well), but my Akron property is expected to bring between $200 and $300 / mo after PM fees.

I know you mentioned leaving a little more money in the deal than expected, but with $500 in cash flow and a $1,200 rent, it looks like you're still in a great spot.It’s also impressive how you managed to find the right contractor, especially on your first out-of-town project, those connections can make or break a deal, so kudos for finding one who’s an investor too!

(vii) would seem to indicate that you'd be acting as an unlicensed broker.(1) "Broker":(A) means a person who, in exchange for a commission or other valuable consideration or with the expectation of receiving a commission or other valuable consideration, performs for another person one of the following acts:(i) sells, exchanges, purchases, or leases real estate;(ii) offers to sell, exchange, purchase, or lease real estate;(iii) negotiates or attempts to negotiate the listing, sale, exchange, purchase, or lease of real estate;(iv) lists or offers, attempts, or agrees to list real estate for sale, lease, or exchange;(v) auctions or offers, attempts, or agrees to auction real estate;(vi) deals in options on real estate, including a lease to purchase or buying, selling, or offering to buy or sell options on real estate;(vii) aids or offers or attempts to aid in locating or obtaining real estate for purchase or lease;(viii) procures or assists in procuring a prospect to effect the sale, exchange, or lease of real estate;(ix) procures or assists in procuring property to effect the sale, exchange, or lease of real estate;(x) controls the acceptance or deposit of rent from a resident of a single-family residential real property unit;(xi) provides a written analysis, opinion, or conclusion relating to the estimated price of real property if the analysis, opinion, or conclusion:(a) is not referred to as an appraisal;(b) is provided in the ordinary course of the person's business; and(c) is related to the actual or potential management, acquisition, disposition, or encumbrance of an interest in real property; or(xii) advises or offers advice to an owner of real estate concerning the negotiation or completion of a short sale; and

Put them at ease by telling them what to expect, and be willing to go through it together.

That said, expect to deal with a fair amount of fluff leads.The two best strategies I’ve found are inbound methods: direct mail and Google Ads.Direct mail can be expensive, but it can also yield highly discounted properties.Google Ads, on the other hand, doesn’t require data extraction like calls, direct mail, or texting.

His name is ThatADUGuy, so you should expect a high bar.