There isn't enough cash flow in these deals to pay the mortgage, monthly expenses and the HELOC that I'm trying to leverage against.

Start by formalizing the transition—create a lease agreement and maintain detailed records of rental income and expenses.

Anywhere near Evens has gotten very expensive, so cash flow will be tougher.

I was able to figure out that they had come upon some hard times and were significantly low on cash.

Utilities for the Rented HouseDeductible as a rental expense from when the property was placed in service (ready to rent).

Little background behind the door: It's a MDF cheap one you buy at HD or Lowes. 

You can bring in more investors or use higher leverage if you are currently doing low LTV

The median home price is also very low nationwide which creates a low barrier to entry.

Just curious, how do you automate tracking expenses?  

It’s a market with low risk and high potential, which makes it an attractive option for those looking to diversify outside of expensive markets like California.Regarding turnkey properties, it sounds like you’ve already found a good provider.