I added a basement apartment to the house, redid the landscaping, and have taken care of some deferred maintenance on the house.

For example, one of our tenants gets discounted rent from April-October for managing the landscaping. 

.- One idea suggested is to put pebbles or small landscape stones.

I own 12-doors there.There are plenty of 1%+ deals in the city but you need to understand the landscape.

How much would you have to pay monthly for landscaping, pool care, utilities?

Hiring a bookkeeper to watch the income/expenses is like hiring a gardener to tell you how many roof shingles are laying on the ground after a wind storm instead of hiring a roofer to repair the roof.I recommend that you look for a quality property manager who can maintain the properties and help with the bookkeeping.Start by going to www.narpm.org to search their directory of managers.

Not sure if this is necessary but I have my own landscaping business that I work for making me self-employed or in the "S-quadrant" of "The Cashflow Quadrant".

My entire family is from there and I'm current in Atlanta GA running a landscaping business, saving every penny up for my first deal.Is it even possible?

This approach not only enhances the potential for financial success but also cultivates a deeper understanding of the real estate landscape, empowering investors to make choices that align with their long-term goals.

Engineering , permits , stormwater management system , clearing , reforestation fee , sediment control , and landscape bond , all this would run you around $175K .