Florida has been painful because of the insurance.

Going out to Alabama means you’ll have to file state income tax there—pain in the butt for $200/mo.A buy box that makes sense for your investment goals.

I do need to look closer to the airport since that is near where my husband's job will be and would love to reduce his commute which is currently a pain in the butt here in CA.

(after several more painful back and forths about her not having one, I tell her where there is a plunger she says I don't know how to use one........ my landlord used to come over at my last rental..... so basically you are telling me your last landlord helped you use a plunger and you still don't know how...   

It pains me to say this since I have been an appraiser for a long time. 

if you're willing to put up with the pain and inconvenience - moving every 1-3 years, living in the smaller / worse units, DIYing things - you could have a portfolio of 5-20 units in 10 years, just by using your house payment.maybe the house you have would be an OK rental. 

Yes rent control is a pain in *** and there are tenants who haven't paid.

The bad experiences are painful but pretty much all real estate investors that make it over the long haul go through them all so good to knock them out early!

I feel your pain :( 

With no late fees- rent is always paid with in the 3-day grace period annual rent is $5400/yearWith chronically late payments a $450/month apartmen with a $45 late fee is $495  or $5940/year.