@Pablo FloresMinut is only indoors, batteries take a long time to charge but they last like 4-5 months for us.

Not a $ maker. 

My interest for setting up the self-direct solo 401k would be to make real estate investments, in case that has any bearing on the above questions. 

@Angela DeBorja while none of these things are a guarantee a property is vacant, I look for:tall grass and unkempt landscapingflyers stuck in door when no other houses have them, free newspapers piled upPhone book on doorstep when no other houses have oneBoarded upbroken  Windows.

I've had a cabinet maker make me some drawer fronts and doors for a kitchen that had some water damage to a few.

In hindsight, I understand why an investor is less desirable compared to an individual who wants to make real estate their career. 

As decision makers, we are trying to assign a probability to a potential outcome and then place our bets accordingly.

The second is that they know they are talking to the decision maker so they feel more connected and are hoping they will be more than just a number to us. 

However I always assumed that houses that college students would consider renting (close to the University) would be too expensive to make renting out worth it?

From my experience pets are a good money maker if you treat them right.