A unit within walking distance of the Blue Line in Wicker Park might rent for $2,200/month compared to $1,700 further away.10.

To build momentum, I’d start small, assemble a reliable local team, and ensure the properties I invest in have strong fundamentals.

Well you'd actually be netting more in the long run by doing so compared to putting it towards the home. 

Over time, I’ve accumulated more cash reserves and don’t need as much flexibility, but I’m actually in the middle of a refinance right now using an interest-only mortgage—because the pricing with the lender and the corresponding ARM is more favorable than a comparable principal-and-interest loan.The key with these alternative or "exotic" mortgage types is that you need to be financially savvy and have a solid plan.

Happy to chat, network and compare notes with folks in this space. 

We think Pottstown looks interesting compared to what else is out there, but I would like to know more about what is within 30 minutes of Reading.

These methods include: Detailed Engineering Cost ApproachDetailed Engineering Cost Estimate ApproachSurvey or Letter ApproachResidual Estimation ApproachSampling or Modeling ApproachExperience or “Rule of Thumb” ApproachIt’s important to understand the differences between the approaches including which one best fits your property and the reliability of each approach.DETAILED ENGINEERING COST APPROACHThis approach compiles the costs from construction and accounting reports to build a report.

Not the greatest occupancy rate, especially when compared with somewhere like the Smokies.

You can use airDNA for market statistics to see what the property would rent for and to to see what a comparable nearby is yielding. 

We don’t know any PMCs to recommend in the area mentioned, but since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant, you might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”:https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processesWe recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.