For me, I have no real obligations that require my additional time, so I choose to put in the work now when it's easy so I can reap the benefits later when it would be tougher.

The separate rental license inspection is a little tougher. 

@Ryan Pilioglas the hard part will be finding the sellers willing to sell at your price, this has become tougher as everyone has discovered the Zestimate and disregards the condition of their home.

@Troy Jones Even though it sounds like it may be tougher to find a deal in the market you ideally want to operate in, I would recommend taking the extra time & effort to find a deal in a location/market you are comfortable operating in. 

red flags are this.1. too quick to approve you when you have little to no expreince2. they don't ask you for detailed financial information from you.3. rates lower than you see from bigger legit lenders ( too good to be true)4. money up front and just like what happened to you.. need this fee .. oh and now I need that fee and of course you will get funding tomorrow if you pay this fee.. this is all a scam plain and simple. find reputable HML in your market go meet them.. if you have no experience it can be tougher.. if your credit is less than 640 can be tough.. if you have no cash for a down payment.. pretty much impossible..

Condos in the area can cashflow  good but getting out of them is a lot tougher than a SFH.

The reality is thieves are thieves they are every where but there is simply no denying in the tougher rougher areas they are rampant.. and vacant houses are simply fare game.. if its not the thieves its the kids breaking in and having fun destroying your house.. on the South side of Chicago they use a system called DAWGS google that bad boy.. only way to keep them out.. and the other thing they do there and in Detroit is any ground level windows are replaced with glass blocks.. 

That’s gonna be a low class tenant so they will be tougher on your properties, hence this will happen a lot more often then in higher class properties instead of what is likely a low C class duplex at best probably worse

There is definitely a cost of  time and effort scrounging for deals to save a few grand.Some of us are in much tougher markets and need instant equity just to make it work. 

Plus my other investments where taking me elsewhere so getting maintenance done was tougher for me as I only have a few there.