You're facing a common investor challenge: learning from experience (and sometimes mistakes).

The most common asset type was commercial multis 7-10 units. 

Lack of provisions for dispute resolution is a common oversight.

I'm being charged half of that annual amount for what appear to be common turnover repairs such as filling nail holes and tightening door knobs.

It is not illegal as long as they aren't hidden and aren't in bedrooms or bathrooms...I have two in the common areas.

Quote from @Evan Ross: One of the most common mistakes I see with amateur landlords: attempting to build goodwill with their tenants.

It's actually so common that there is entire Real Estate Investment strategies built around it.

Common misconception that the fed funds controls mortgage rates but that is not how it works. 

U only have to be burned once when title comes back 3 days before closing ( which can be very common in abstractor  states ) only to find it title is buggered.. title companies and closing attorneis may have their process's but a good agent just lets them know this is how escrow is going to flow.. they will wine but it cost 200.00 for a title search and we dont want to spend that until we know we have a closing.

And it should be common sense.