This is how I started as finding cash flowing in my area is very hard and I am after passive income stream so cashflow was important, any appreciation is icing on the cake.

If buy and hold is anywhere on your road map then that's a great way to get familiar with the ins and outs of being a landlord, and it saves you commute time when issues pop up, and, extra icing on the cake, you can use FHA financing for up to 4 unit properties.

Since I began investing in Detroit a few years ago I cannot get my head around so many things regarding the way things are done over there - but this one definitely is a contender for taking the cake. 

I found your site last Saturday night while researching the legitimacy of a FAR more expensive "Guru organization" that stopped by Anaheim for a three day conference.  

@Bob Mazza, I agree with much of what others already posted here - oil stains on the carpet and globs of grease caking walls, stove, floors, etc. is NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

That last part really took the cake.   

I've often found some weird things left behind after tenants move out, but this one might take the cake. 

If I had a good paying, responsible tenant who stayed 14 years, I would happily return the full deposit and bake the relatives a cake too!

I have to agree with others who have recommended A, and B's experience as a landlord is icing on the cake.

I found a client 2 4-plexes last year, in Orange and Anaheim, that cash flowed about $500-600/month with potential for about $1000 more per month after rehab + raising rent.