I remember back when I was ramping up my own rental portfolio in those early-2000s San Diego days, I learned the hard way that ignoring “little” costs..like that termite treatment or the property manager’s onboarding fee..can turn what looked like a sweet deal into something that barely breaks even.Let’s say you pick up a property in one of those under-the-radar neighborhoods in Omaha or maybe on the south side of Chicago..markets I’ve seen a few colleagues dabbling in lately..you’ve got to be ready to get real about the numbers.

I’ve been in the real estate game for over two decades, and I’ve had my fair share of experiences with PM companies... some stellar, others not so much.Here’s what I’d suggest:Start Local: In OC, there’s a lot of value in picking a PM company that knows the ins and outs of the area.

We also have a bank account at a smaller Chicago community bank, but there technology isn't as good to be honest.I think @Jonathan Greene's main point is don't step over dollars to pick up pennies. 

(@Jonathan Greene DM us if you'd like to chat about them)Regarding turnkey in Metro Detroit, haven't seen anyone do it the right way:( We've picked up dozens of their clients that fire them due to poor tenant performance and nonstop repairs on their "turnkey" properties. 

For example, the owner's name or the property's name (I picked this one).

Pick up the book Building Wealth One House at a Time by John Schaub.

This tax lien investment looks like a win win situation once you pick a good deal.

A host with a lot of properties always needs people on call to put out fires, deliver random items etc so maybe you can help with that. 

But these guys were not any random guys, they were my crew.

@Matthew McCarty At the beginning of my investing career, I was constantly looking at websites like Zillow and Redfin to see what houses are selling for so that I have a good feeling on the market I picked.