It’s fantastic that you're interested in exploring real estate as a way to use your free time productively.

I'll call you in the morning to talk about your loan product options.Thanks!

If you want to use a PM, find one specializing in your product.

In fact I joined the company to help build a product that can help everyday investors organize rental finances like the pros do. 

I am on the product team and helped roll out the Featured Agent program.

What are the best methods and products to tackle these tough cleaning tasks?

While cap rates have risen, you are still seeing groups buying in the low to mid 5%s for 70's-90's product.  

Buyer then ghosts and didn't send in what they owed to satisfy the HUD. 

You could then get a HELOC/LOC on that paid of property (a product that doesn't require you to use it) and then if you did have a big emergency you had a line to use on it.Now, ALL of this is dependent on how much money you have in the bank, how many properties you have, what your income will be like in retirement, what the standard age would be for your end of life (that's a scary one to think about), and while yes, you can certainly take equity out I just think it would be good to sit down with a financial planner...or even some other investors that are local to you that are around your age demographic and see what they are doing.I'm glad you are thinking about this for sure.  

Or, at least the company's offering them in other states think Texas law would not look kindly on the product so as you point out they do not offer in Texas.