I flip and my friends who are REI also seeing shrinking profit margins not only due to rising material and labor costs but also the loss of multiple bids.However, with any market there are locations still commanding high dollar.

He built them with low maintenance materials and just recently refurbished 1 of the duplex buildings with a new 40 year metal roof, new water heaters, refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves and AC units.The 2nd duplex still needs to be refurbished but is currently rented, so this gives the option of forced appreciation.

I’ve started listening to other podcasts, reading a bunch of material and I’ve come up with a bunch of plans just I don’t know where to really start.

You may only charge for contracted expenses, rented equipment, material destroyed, items replaced and actual cleaning expenses.

I am also considering to go to Home Depot or Lows to get familiar with costs of material by myself and also get contacts of various contractors or handymans from my area so that I can just quick give them a call later and find out potential cost by discribing situations.

Any new construction is about high 100's to low 200's minimum these days because cost to acquire land, entitle it, labor, and construction materials have all gone up.If you are buying 150k below type stuff it can be very tough as existing properties you have home buyers, local buy and hold investors, flippers, out of town all cash CA type buyers who will take less yield to get into a market, etc.

I have my home depot card linked (as this is where I buy most of my materials) and haven't had any issues thus far.

Consider including a requirement like this: Tenant shall obtain a renters insurance policy that includes that the carrier must provide 30 days’ notice of cancellation, non-renewal, or material change in coverage, to the Owner.Yes, require each tenant and occupant over 18 to carry an insurance policy. 

The price is hard to beat and the course material I would imagine is the same as any other.

Depending on the contractor, type of materials and labor.