(They have the deferred maintenance you'd expect after a fixed income senior lived in them for several years, plus smokers, pets)So how do I turn 5 straggling houses into a proper real estate portfolio and well-managed rental business? 

They will tell you that they have a maintenance department that will take care of minor maintenance.

In terms of maintenance cost and liability the PB Court is a no brainer.

Do you meet with us routinely to be proactive and do planning?

Beyond the Monthly Management, Placement & Maintenance fees, all other fees in our contract are IF EVENT -> THEN fees.

These services invest in technology, data acquisition, and maintenance to ensure the quality and reliability of their information, which is why they charge for access.

If you're going the umbrella insurance route, perhaps see if it will cover you for several things including just the routine slip and fall (like mold or earthquake).

Ease of management and maintenance, lower costs of capex.

In Oakland, dilapidated structures can get by with a bare minimum of state required maintenance for decades.The very policies that are intended to protect tenant rights, over and over and over again, seem to backfire, helping only tenants who stay put for decades, and in some cases who maintain a residence at thousands of dollars below market in the rent controlled city while also living in another location.

Ask them if any maintenance is needed and how much they are paying for rent.