Finally,   be sure to join rental housing association (rhawa.org) they are an excellent industry association that supports and represents many smaller landlords in seattle and surrounding region.I have 8 units in 3 buildings right now in south seattle and vicinity;  my strategy has been to buy under-managed but functional buildings needing mild to moderate rehab,  do the work over a couple years with a mix of my own effort and contracting things out, bring rents up closer to market, then long term hold.   

I persistently come across an overwhelming amount of properties advertising 100% occupancy with minimal-mild value-add repairs to be had.

I've been recently market testing the area a bit and getting some mild feedback. 

I've been recently market testing the area a bit and getting some mild feedback. 

Winter is mild, snow stays in the mountains where it belongs.

A google streetview snapshot from several years ago showed the house as a mild sky blue so I decided to try and paint back to that color.

There's a washer/dryer with detergent in every house. 

I simultaneously got a better management company and my mildly improved apt with my much better screening got me a property full of 'lifers' who show no signs of moving.

ZONE 4 Insulation Guide linesThis cold winter in mild weather California coast costs home owners this year twice as in the past. $300-$500/ month is fairly common.

I confirmed that when I got my tax bills, and the values of my other properties reflected the drop as well.The 2007 - 2008 correction was mild.