No don't hire a PM until you can scale - that landlord experience is worth it's weight in goldHappy to connect and talk through more questions any time - my answers are just based on my personal experience so take them with a grain of salt!

Reverse engineering from your desired income to today's steps, like calculating the number of properties to purchase each year, is a practical strategy.

Imagine the cash flow I could have if I desired (my cash flow is not great because I extract value regularly and because I prefer my return to be in tax free or tax deferred sources and cash flow you get taxed on yearly).Case Schiller used to (maybe still does) publish a residential market performance ranking since 2000.  

Some are considered more desirable to live in while some might have better schools.

The second is a growing desire to manage risk through owning better-quality assets where unexpected capital expenses are less likely.

Im just saying that in the future if/when you go to sell an owner occupant will likely prefer a central AC system so that will make your home more desirable and theoretically worth more.

You may be able to find houses that will get close to that criteria, but they will most likely be in less desirable neighborhoods that you will have lots of issues and turnover.

Corolla is a highly desirable place! 

You'll have a great start in the real estate business with your abilities and desire to learn.

While I admire your desire to help people, at some point, that is going to bite you in the ***.You should have firm set criteria, and stick to it.