It's a competitive market and most of the people that get in trouble here are ones that buy blindly without actually figuring out the numbers, etc.You'd be surprised the number of times I get asked after month one if their electric bill of $xxx or whatever is normal, and the thought running through my head is "how did you not  check things like that before you committed half a million dollars to something?"

Check out podmatch.

Assuming the area checks out, I’d rather buy in a high price area that has little to no cash flow rather than an area that has cash flow but lower price.  

I do well, at least enough to go on vacations as a family, put money into high yield savings accounts, max out the ROTHs and add to investments when I can with money saved in savings and checking accounts.

Looking for a gut check here because my CPA/tax guy is advising against dumping the brokerage account bc taxes, missed upside - but he also admits to not specializing in real estate asset/tax protection strategies.  

They want to get a monthly check without having to work for it.

Check with your tax accountant.

You could check out a book by Dave Van Horn called Real Estate Note Investing.

I went to pay them, couple of days work I'll pay with a check (1099) and cash it for them.Hey Tony, I've got all O's info what's yours?"

Some days are pretty minor, but you need to skim, check filters, check ph, check cholrine, etc.