Basically gentrified an old neighborhood.  

We follow a similar model as @Bill B. and with similar results, except our properties are from the 60s, so we gut them and rehab from the studs up, basically resetting the clock. 

Not that I plan to live in or even visit the US anytime soon, but I don't want to deal with winter-related issues like heating, de-winterizing a home etc. 

It will familiarize you with the basic terminology and benefits.

Take a one of my basic rentals - rents for $1250/mo - PITI is ~750 - CapEx/repairs ~100/mo - so say cashflow is $400/mo or $4800/year.

Keep your equities levered at 20%(half high vol, 1/4 low vol, 1/4 basic indices) and keep your phys/hard assets levered at 40%.

The upgrade basically put a target on my back with the fire marshall as he came by to inspect the work and found that there were a few compliance issues.

@Mark Ross  don't include heat in rent on an ongoing basis. 

You provide an excel sheet with basic information about the companies and they return all the contact info you could want for about $0.15 per lead.I have not been able to find an equivalent for Canada.

The benefit of old homes imo is that I go in and redo all of the systems and have basically a brand new house that I know was done right bc I oversaw everything.Most new homes are built with cheaper materials than the homes built in 1900.