However, in my personal experience, about 80% of them are nuttier than squirrel turds so you have to be prepared for the occasional drama.

HML's are most definitely NOT better, but partners can be better...depending on the deal itself.Here are some examples:1 - Lease Options and Sandwich LO2 - LAnd Contracts3 - Stand alone Options4 - Private lending5 - Selle Financing (this is an entire list in itself)6 - Cash Partner exchange7 - Use of Non-collateralized Loans (properly used, this is free money)8 - Use of Cash Reserves (not the kind where you squirrel away part of your cash flow)9 - Use of Escrow accounts10 - Use of LLC's instead of buying in personal name...that's just a short list.

Hello, I bought and have been living in a duplex in Squirrel Hill for almost 2 years.  

Hold Capital Reserves:Where you can be as preventative and proactive as you want, if you are going to invest in real estate and own rental properties, you will always need reserves to account for planned and unexpected repairs alike (in addition to planned and unplanned vacancies).

The Pensacola area was a very unplanned city so getting between the more popular leisure/entertainment highlights of town (Downtown, Perdido Key, or Pensacola Beach being your big three) can be a solid 30 minute drive.

I also don't know anyone who hunts squirrel with a bazooka, or who paints a house with an artist's brush.  

Rates may be much higher, you maybe can't refinance for some unplanned disaster. 

I evicted a tenant in 2014 that was nuttier than squirrel poop but also very intelligent, looked like a model, etc.

Now remember, no one gives a poop that you have amazing hair, are 3x world champion squirrel hunter and that your pet iguana is called Nigel. 

Get the entry points sealed, exclusion is your best defense against any type of pest, including raccoons and squirrels.