It's easy to obtain, costs very little, and doesn't require extra, on-going effort to maintain.

The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

The only point I would maybe add is that in this type of environment only big box landlords and property owners can competeOn the first interview on the BP podcast with Grant Cardone, he specifically said he wants to invest in Blue states because of all the above mentioned items you listed....but that's Grant Cardone he can afford to take on the extra burden that comes with crushing regulation.

It may sound nice to pay a 6% management fee but the extra fees can add up to be more than the other company that charges 10% with no additional fees.

My name is Hogan Chouinard and I am new to real estate investing, I have been wanting to get involved with real estate for a while because I want to give myself financial freedom in the future by putting in the extra work right now, I want to start a real estate portfolio that I can continue to build on over time for years to come, and I am hoping that I can meet some people on bigger pockets that can help me along the way!

Or would be worth pursuing a R-62 Minor Home Improvement License as an extra precaution?

So could you " Add " an extra $5,000 to the loan as a whole ?

Also PM would do a checklist during that photo visit to try to catch extra people, unregistered pets, leaks, damage, maybe bad water heaters/HVAC units, storm damage, so that's being proactive.I think these days too many PMs are in it to try to figure out how they can milk the heck out of stupid owners vs helping them build a portfolio and be successful owners.Being proactive on preventative maintenance, being quick on delinquencies, providing property values and options is helpful. 

If your average heating bill is $150, you may not collect enough in the winter months when the bill reaches $225 but you'll collect extra in the summer when it drops to $65.

You'd be better off just investing in one of the many note funds rather than straight-up gambling for a couple hundred extra bps.