Raleigh is only among the 10 cities in population growth.2)Keeping property updated and properly maintained.So, I think, as long as rental properties aren't one's main source of income, then you can build solid wealth over long term even if the properties break-even on cash flow today.I remember when GOOG bought YOUTUBE for $1.65 billion.  

It's difficult for me to even dignify this attitude among the ignorant "Chicken Littles", especially those in the media, with a response.

We have accounts at Lowe's and HD and use them very regularly (we are among the top contractor's in our area by $ amount at each store).

I imagine once the ban is lifted, there will be some demand coming from the Bay Area to safely social distance in the mountains/lakes -- you just have to make sure that your rental stands out as one of the best options in terms of photos/price so that regardless of if there are 1000 people looking to stay or 10, yours is among the first to be chosen.

It’s agreed that lower demographic properties have greater volatility and a much greater chance of having a disappointing (if not outright negative) ROI for longer stretches, due to evictions, turnover, lack of good tenants due to high unemployment, and general social pathologies and bad financial habits among the lower-income tenant group.

If you want some hard numbers to convince your wife with, I'd consider looking overseas - there are a lot of places in the world where monthly cashflow is in the net 10% and over (some of them even without the hassle of US tenants and property managers, which aren't always among the best of them) - way over what you'd save by investing in your own live-in.Best of luck!

You'll see stuff like grassy dividers with trees in among the rows of parking spaces.

In some states contracts are available online (in fact I think CO has them), and there are many similarities among the various states' contracts.Go to your library and look up some RE books and see if they show contracts.

I just do a cost-analysis of what water usually costs in the building..I add that money into the rent, and divide it among the tenants..In my 2 family unit, its about 11 bucks per month, or 44 per quarter.Nothing huge, but why pay for it.

This isn't necessarily profit so you should be careful if you're splitting this cash among the owners.