All the investors I've worked with target 20% or more.Just seems like a lot of risk for such a small profit.

With $50k, you likely have enough to get started, especially if you target lower-cost markets or use a strategy like house hacking.

Start with Reonomy or Costar to identify all the 100+ units in your target market (on and off market) and then see if you can get into direct contact with some owners.

How many doors do you need to hit your target?  

It’s less than 15 minutes by car from two major universities (Towson & Morgan) and just a 7-minute walk from a shuttle that services both campuses.I plan to rent the property by the room, targeting mainly college students due to its proximity to the schools.

I recommend researching the average appreciation over the past 10 years in your target area to get a clearer picture.As you know, in real estate, ROI comes from multiple sources: Home Appreciation:  Reno Appreciation: Value added through renovations or improvements (usually just in the first year).

I guess they are the same Taxes so it makes it easier.

If you consistently analyze properties, recognizing a good deal will be much easier when it shows up.

You may also want to consider the type of tenant you are targeting. 

I will add that you definitely do not need to be near your investments, but it makes things a lot easier when you first start off.