Moving forward: I will have semi-annual inspections done on the two properties I have, to check up on them.

I'm comfortable with 800k if it's also a semi nice place to live.

In San Diego I see cash flow positive duplex to quad semi regularly on the MLS but the best values are off market properties and require networking, work and/or luck.  

We were originally thinking about the Dade City / Bushnell Area From the perspective of becoming a SEMI SNOW BIRD .

I was just saying metal roofs are brilliant and there are some best practice items that can be done for rentals that will help with this.anyone who has read any of my post though knows that I am not keen on low end D class rentals like Morris is touting.. the rents are not high enough to generate enough gross cash flow to properly maintain a home that is going to have 10 to 50% more expenses because of the tenant base.and those expense's will come in lost rent.. vacancy .. theft and tenant abuse.. just will there is a reason you have hoods and semi hoods... the risk is huge and the morris product is in those areas.

This topic comes up semi-regularly on this forum. 

also my home is a semi-attached brick row house.

Sure, you could put some things on the back burners (say, adding central air vs window units or updating wood windows to vinyl or replacing butcher block countertops with granite or at least formica or holding off on refinishing semi-OK hardwoods, etc.).

I dont think the class of tenants I serve care about having the walls yellow semi gloss.Anyone know a good reliable and reasonable handyman in springfield?

this is what i do with my builders.. depending on the value of the end product.. build fee's for GC's in a semi volume play is 7 to 15k per house... pretty nice gig for the builders if we do volume..