If your goal is to help your mom, you can purchase a property for her through a 1031 exchange and rent it to her at fair market value to meet IRS guidelines.

The goal is to slowly build a real estate portfolio and get to a point that I can eventually sale my business. 

What is a goal you have as you start learning about RE investing?

And for those looking to exit, was it the headaches, or just a shift in goals?" 

My long-term goal to continue aquiring properties.

My goal is to create generational wealth for my family and to eventually have the financial freedom to say "yes" to travel adventures as a family. 

That can help narrow down the best neighborhoods for your investment goals.

Beyond legal requirements, I’d love to hear about any practical advice for managing properties, finding good tenants, and avoiding common pitfalls.

For example, say it were a 2bd/1ba property, I would just list it for 1 nurse to stay and I would hit my cash flow goal.

So depending on what your investment goals are and what type of properties (Class A through C/D) and where in the city you want to buy, that can directly impact the level of stability one can find within the market here.