I did this and Jimmy and I became friends, sometimes travelled the “guru” circuit of those days together, and I stayed at his house and he often stayed at mine.  

My goal is to make the most strategic move that maximizes profit while managing risk effectively.If you had $25K to invest, what would be the best option?

It's best to have a house manager.

I've been managing 70+ midterm rentals for over 3 years and we have never housed a traveling nurse - in our area, their stipends (or what they are willing to pay) are much lower than we can get in rents with other prospective guests/tenants.Utilities are included at all of our properties and that is common practice here. 

I dunno @Mike Francis, this has come up before and I still think that you aren't going to get a ton of traffic from being on there.

→ A property manager could do that.📌 Maintenance Issues?

Perhaps I could help with some recommendations for other contractors to bid on the roof and foundation or even a new property manager.

It's best to have a property manager involved because they usually know the rules etc.

I also run a cleaning business in Las Vegas that works with a lot of real estate investors and property managers, which has been a great way to meet industry professionals.

I highly recommend you study this, practice it, and apply it.https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rental-property-cash-flow...Property Details:Type: Single-family homePurchase Price: $289,900Down Payment: 20% ($57,980)Loan Amount: $231,920Interest Rate: 6.85%Loan Term: 30 yearsMonthly Mortgage Payment:Using a mortgage calculator, your principal and interest will cost $1,515 per monthRental Income:Average Rent for Single-Family Home: $2,171 per monthOperating Expenses:Property Taxes: $300 per monthInsurance: $100 per monthMaintenance and Repairs: Budgeting 5% of rental income ($109 per month)Vacancy Rate: Assuming 5% vacancy ($109 per month)Property Management Fees: If outsourced, typically 10% of rental income ($217 per month)Total Monthly Expenses:Operating Expenses: $835Mortgage Payment: $1,515Total Expenses: $2,350Net Monthly Cash Flow:Rental Income: $2,171Total Expenses: $2,350Net Cash Flow: -$179 per monthConclusion:In this scenario, the rental income of $2,171 per month does not fully cover the total monthly expenses of $2,350, resulting in a negative cash flow of $179.