AI-powered platforms can be a useful tool to manage the routine tasks of a landlord such as collecting rent, tenant screening, maintenance requests and tenant communications.

Since we are not looking for something too fancy, I am optimistic that we'll manage to find a place we like that doesn't break the bank.

The way I see it is that the monthly fee should cover coordinating routine maintenance (HVAC tuneup or minor maintenance, leaky faucets and drains, sprinklers, minor pest control, etc.), but larger ticket items that may require multiple bids, permits, or otherwise could have reasonably been prevented should be handled separately and charged to the owner.

For the ongoing/routine items, I'm less sure - though have a pretty good idea of some routine stuff, like lawn mowing, other things feel like a complete guess, like how many plumbing calls will I'll need per year per unit? 

Don't get caught up in having your own place, going to fancy places, big trips, etc.

You can do both basic housing aimed at students (they usually aren't hard to impress, just want a safe place to sleep - they don't need fancy and usually won't maintain fancy) and higher-end housing geared towards all of the professionals who work at the area hospitals, and everyone who works in Albany area in general.

Generally any hold of more than a year is considered routinely safe.

Large Fancy homes Et cetera without taking steps to protected there wealth.But this thread does not seem to be about wealth protection, it seems to be about advice to people just starting out trying to build their wealth. 

Nothing fancy and easy to replace as needed.

Nothing fancy, but coffee and solid breakfast sandwiches.