so if you're impatient and just buy something random it's not going to work and you'll just set yourself back.

Like I have told many, there are several people who know how to make this work, and you are one of them. 

Like you said RE is a people business and if you are uncomfortable with people you probably aren't going far. bottom line people our age actually worked at 8 9 10 years old did not sit home playing computer games LOL.. although kids doing that today and have a knack for it and go into tech later do quite well of course :)   I mean for me it was 57 to 60 years ago I am just thankful today I am alive and well and can read and type and still work :)  AND remember those days fondly.

This will increase the return above what can be obtained on a passive investment.The flipside of having the power to control everything is that it can be alot of work (and a full-time job if a person is putting in sweat equity).

Detroit is a great place for that, but as you probably already know, it takes work and strategy.For background, I moved from CA to Troy, MI, back in 2017, lived there for five years, and built my Detroit portfolio aggressively—12 doors in 2.5 years, generating $16,000/month in gross rents.

If you get help and look in the right locations, you can make the numbers work and still enjoy the property with your family.

This will increase the return above what can be obtained on a passive investment.The flipside of having the power to control everything is that it can be alot of work (and a full-time job if a person is putting in sweat equity).

He currently travels often for work and resides in TN. 

They might have a contractor they can get in do all the work and get ready to sell!

Make sure the estimates are very detailed (scope, SF, $/sf, schedule, etc) to ensure that there is a clear dilation between contract work and change orders.