But with the second home the $600 in extra rental income is enough to pay towards an equity loan.

It may sound nice to pay a 6% management fee but the extra fees can add up to be more than the other company that charges 10% with no additional fees.

I just wondered if working with one of these mentor groups would add an extra layer of expertise, or if it wasn't worth the hassle.

Going direct saves you and the seller money, giving you a lower cost to entry which helps all your numbers, but you have to put in the extra work to find that deal.

Class C and D areas/properties will always cash flow better on paper, but on paper things like extra repairs, turnover, evictions and such are often not taken into account. 

They like extra room to avoid accidents, etc....Just my $0.02....

With an extra vacancy or a maintenance issue or an extra turnover, this is definitely a negative cash flow producing investment.So when you say the rent growth and value growth have exceeded your expectations, I would love to have you respond as to how that is possibly the case. 

I'm also working on a Google Data Analyst certification to bring in some extra income while I'm home with our 19-month-old daughter.I'm still pretty new to this, though, and I'm not sure where to start or if I'm on the right track.

That way you wouldn't need an extra policy.

I ASSUME you’re talking $400+ in extra expenses for providing water, power, sewer, gas, internet, communal area cleaning, and exterior maintenance.