Manage their properties Provide welcome gifts/ goodie bags for their guests before check in Hauling extra supplies/ misc items to return to stores or other properties--Any other ideas that I can pitch to make myself more marketable?

Albany has a mix of appreciation and cash flow opportunities, steady rental market due to state /government jobs and colleges.I would love to help you out with your investing journey.

Those are buyers not renters unless there is some other circumstance.I think you are right about supply....apartment construction is just about to come to a halt and unless interest rates drop in 1/2 probably won't see that pickup for a while. 

Consider cleaning, lawn care, snow removal and supplies as well as utilities  in your calculations.  

Huntsville is a fantastic market with strong job growth, a booming tech industry, and steady rental demand.

Quote from @Andrea Lucarelli: I’m interested in beginning my REI career with purchasing a SFH or condo in Cleveland area (safe neighborhood) to list as a furnished rental for travel medical professionals, supply corporate housing needs, or house temporarily displaced families for insurance companies.  

I feel like right now is one of the hardest times to find deals, but I still want to start asap and go slow and steady, with a long term plan.

During 2020 to 2022 I was fighting to keep my business profitable as materials and labor came in short supply and eventually led to the inflation we're seeing now.

Its awesome to see how fast Dubai is changing, but in real estate investing you want slow and steady.

Slow and steady.