that describes the medium or the mechanism of the true underlying investing action. 

Properties, for novices, which look good on paper and have good cash flow usually come with C to D+ areas, risky tenants, and a lot of cap ex that you can't see on the internet (basements, roofs, water issues, outdated mechanicals).You are turning a terrible loss into a springboard which is great, but you are trying to move too quickly it sounds like.

Unless you have a very high maintenance tenant or tons of old plumbing/mechanicals you can do really well by having an 'emergency list' of really good handymen, plumbers, hvac tech, etc.

Does Avail.co have a mechanism for holding security deposits?

., we have had a broken window (the locking mechanism), someone busted up the queen futon frame, someone took the waffle maker, beach towels go missing all the time, TV remotes gone, etc.People like to put stuff in places they think they should be.

Mechanicals are in good shapeARV: $280k-$300k~$74kish left on the mortgage - 6.75% interest about $890 monthly payment / HOA ~$200 a month / Insurance $35 a month / Taxes $355 per month / Tenant pays Water, Gas Heat. 

Some go by the SQ FT to estimate but the age of mechanicals can swing the budget

This year I went on a motorcycle trip 3000 miles off-road through Patagonia with a guide, a mechanic and a support vehicle, it was a proper adventure absolutely epic.

If you are looking at a house that needs work cosmetically and you have little experience, it is likely the mechanicals are older too and that's where you get killed.

Auto mechanics love to rent it out.