@jason sylka - I have some data scientist friends that might be able to either help you clean or glean your data - sounds like a fun side project I'd love to contribute to that if you need help!

You have all helped my wife and I make the decision to pursue real estate the way we have always wanted by sharing your experiences and allowing us to glean wisdom from the collective group. 

So there's information out there for motivated agents to glean. 

However, you did get to see two different approaches towards dealing with defaulted tenants and hopefully gleaned some useful information regardless of the path you pursue.

Also, I'd love to see how other investors tour houses to try and glean some information off of the experience!

Listen, learn, and glean anything and everything you can.

So the profit margin is low already from what I've gleaned.

@Mindy Jensen    Mindy it would be great if you can twist one of the CPA on BP to do a nice post on the effects of the new tax bill.. as I know the threads will start to run wild with you can do this you cant do that.. from what I glean and whats important to me.1.. cant write off state income tax from federal.. that's a biggee for high tax states and conversely makes no tax states more attractive to those who can move.2. limits property tax write off to 10k on personal resi.. that effects high tax rate states.. and high value states.As I no longer have rental property I was not really tracking what it effects there.. but I was planning on selling my personal resi and getting the 500k tax free.. it looks like now I will have to hold one more year as I have only been in this home 4 years not five.etc etc.

I want to purchase a apartment complex, or duplex starting out however want to glean or get information on the best route to take step by step!

But it's nice to have the easy to glean messages about an asset vs. liability.