I had one SEC 8 tenant last year get charged with possession of pot and lost her voucher as a result. 

So should i start out taking baby steps, or should I put on my big boy britches, get off the bench, and start playing ball with the big boys, so to speak?

There is no way to do it without considerably sweetening the pot.

Property Owner: When I get through with you, you're not gonna have a pot to piss in!!!

I have placed some sand filled cement pots around the decks and outside the garage where he smokes.

Get involved build your network of people in the business who are successful and doing what you want to accomplish and try to get under their wing by any means necessary and they will show you the path to enlightenment, learn your market so you know how to spot a deal; once you combine all that in one pot, you'll be a dynamic force!

There's a lid for every pot and real estate is very forgiving.

My commissions on the buy and sale go into the pot to be split 50/50.

you limite your pool when you ask for 1st months rent and the deposit at lease sigining. most renters dont' have a pot to pi$$ in...same way with most Americans these days.

Enough condo, townhome, and business owners are invested in the neighborhood to not let it go to pot again.