I decided to get liscenced as a home inspector and utilize my knowledge in building science so I can add value to others but also so that I could immerse myself in the real estate industry and show investors that I am taking this seriously.

If you have zero vacancies, zero tenant damage, make sure utilities (especially heat) stay on every winter even if the tenant doesn’t pay.  

Hi Radhika-Congratulations on being a homemaker with young kids and looking to do more for the family financially now that the kids are older.You have 50K to get started but are having difficulty choosing markets and deciding where to begin and you are thinking about single-family long-term rentals out of state because you live in California.I would encourage you to start with duplexes, preferably with 2 bedrooms in each unit for tenant longevity, and ideally with separate utilities.

I have had nothing but problems utilizing their system. 

I didn't, and the people at Eagle Rock, who approved permits and necessary utility connections, were not very cooperative, which made the process more stressful than it had to be.I've seen lots listed on Zillow and the Aggressive Real Estate web site. 

You cannot use rental income above your mortgage payment to help qualify for a larger mortgage, but you can utilize 100% of the lease income to offset so that should help you qualify for more of a mortgage. 

Your approach to investing in real estate through purchasing foreclosed homes at local auctions and utilizing the BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) strategy, especially with a focus on Section 8 housing, is a proactive and potentially lucrative path.

Add utilities, lawn and pool care $800-1000.

Service would change, though, as the successful experiences of early-adopter customers would demonstrate the utility and superiority of NewCo.

I would however recommend elevating anything placed in a non-elevated utility room to ensure damage is unlikely in future storms.