From what I see in your post, the only issue thus far is expecting 20% down on an undesirable collateral type to most lenders...Cheers!

Crypto has been taking a pounding 

.) -- failing to hire a property manager in an effort to save some $$$ when you're not local AND you're not intimately familiar with the market is almost always a penny-wise, pound-foolish move.

I'm old and retired at 65% RE, 20% cash and the rest is IRA's, a few stocks, some dividend paying funds, and I almost forgot; 11 pounds of silver we use as a door stop!

In every training session I attended it was POUNDED into our heads that there was no such thing as a "standard" commission. 

I love this country mate but it's starting to resemble communism...The most thankless job in all of real estate is property management.It's almost impossible enough to find a legit operator like yourself and then folks request lower fee's.Unbelievable...I don't think folks understand how much time and effort is needed to property manage "properly" and the 10% is peanuts.Sure, if you pay in peanuts you will get a monkey heheTry self managing and many will come back crying in a few months.Just my opinion after pounding the PM pavement for 10+ years now 

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.Inspectors can vary DRAMATICALLY in their experience levels, and their thoroughness, and even the best inspectors will occasionally miss important issues (nobody's perfect).Therefore, each time I buy a property, I don't use one home inspector, I use SEVERAL layers of inspection done by SEVERAL pros.Yes, I use a regular home inspector, but I also have an experienced plumber scope the sewer line on EVERY property before I buy.

- The pounding inside my head.

If theyre just going to send you a portfolio booklet or send you to a website of all their listings tell them to pound sand.

They are most ideal when you have a lot of rooms  All you're gonna get is undesirables.