I am not sure about the RE laws in the market you are referring too however in the State of WI if there is a property a seller does not perform on contractually, before expiration we have our attorney draft a notice of interest into that property and file it with the county. 

In a nutshell, IL (where I live) too expensive of a market, but WI, MI, OH etc seems like you’d get more bang for your buck. also,  you can look at a City’s  consolidation plan and what their plans are for development to get a good forecasting of housing booms.

We embrace S8 applicants, but screen them just like any other applicant.Many have an entitlement mentality and try to leverage their S8 voucher by pretending to be helpless:1) A percentage won't apply because they expect a landlord to waive application fees for them.2) Many cry broke and expect a landlord NOT to charge them a security deposit.3) Many of those same S8 tenants trying to avoid paying a security deposit, won't make an effort to call the list of nonprofits we send them that will pay their security deposit if they apply.4) A lot of them try to avoid paying for utilities.

In the lease it states that a security deposit of 1 months rent was collected. 

* What do you do to ensure that the tenant is responsible for security deposit disputes since that is the largest reason for owner lawsuits* How familiar are you with the newly changed laws that can affect you the owner if they are not used correctly?

Sure, but again securing $500,000 isn't difficult.That said, liability coverage is lawsuit protection coverage just like it is for you. 

For example I have an account for each property and a sub-account just for the security deposits for those properties.

Best approach is to have your "team" set, before going out to secure properties. 

Hello, we have a. apartment complex in LA County and want to install security cameras in the common areas.

If I have no mortgage the cash flow is more secure.