Our offices are in the southern parts of the US so naturally we're more comfortable with buying in our backyard.

Perhaps do a case study with a hypothetical deal you think is typical for what you are looking at and compare it to the alternative investments you might use and their expected returns.

It also gives you stability in the event of market downturns or unexpected expenses, allowing you to lower rents if needed without feeling financial pressure.The alternative leveraging more with 20% down—would allow you to acquire properties more quickly, accelerating your cash flow goal.

Was the 'average' alternative investment in 2021 with 200k unoquivocally better than holding the asset (and by 50-100k)? 

Selling to you could begin to feel like an appealing alternative to dealing with the hassle of re-renting the home.If they’re open to selling, you can share what you’d be willing to pay based on your research and pre-approval.

Putting people in a position where they would need to sell or come up with an alternative strategy to pay off the mortgage balance prior to rebuilding. 

If it’s not required by law, you might ask why it’s being done now and if there are alternative ways to address the concern.Going forward, consider setting a clear spending threshold with your property manager.

Alternatively, once you have a full time job (or an employment contract), you should be able to qualify for a loan and utilize a Down Payment Assistance program.

These costs for most of the individuals are considered personal in nature (unless you have a RE portfolio that is run like a business; see below).

Licensed contractors have more of their "shtuff" together and thus are better at their job and naturally will cost more.