Also, just compare your listing with the competitor listings.

For instance, Berea is a charming college town, but the combination of local taxes and less favorable price-to-rent ratios makes it less appealing for investment compared to other areas in the state.Agree here! 

Real estate often rewards patience, and holding in a market like this can allow you to build wealth steadily as property values grow.

You look for comparable sales for other distressed properties that are similar and nearby and also counter that with finished version comps so you can see what your perceived spread could be.

That's comparing apples to oranges.

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

However, the best way to get a feel for rental rates compared to values is to review/underwrite properties in the area - only after reviewing/underwriting many will you begin to see a pattern.

The cost to maintain them probably wouldn’t be exactly 8x as compared to the single 8-unit, but it sure as hell isn’t a 1-to-1 ratio either. 

Stay consistent, set clear goals, and remember real estate is a long-term game that rewards patience and persistence!

I've painted more walls, ceilings and trim work than I could ever count in my lifetime and *I* suck compared to professional painters, and most of my paint jobs could pass for lower-end professional jobs.