$250k is about right for something fancy, the maximum allowed square footage is usually 864sf.3.  

I would rather have an average house and a bunch of investments, than a fancy house and fancy cars I work and work to make the payments on.

Some people are still in their work suit attire, while some people are dressed down.

I've had ceiling fans in all my rentals - I've never got a call or had problems with them - except for own - which had a switch go bad and was easily fixed for a few dollars and about 10 minutes -  In fact  - I actually did receive a call about a fan once - a tenant of mine wanted permission to install his own fancy fan that he received from his sister - he said he would leave it in the apartment when he left  - It was a really nice fan - so I went ahead and installed it for him and when he left, true to his word - he did not ask about the fan or indicate that he wanted to take it with him.

People offer all these fancy stuff to make things easier for other people, like tenants and customers, that works with QuickBooks, but don't realize the spot they put us (Landlords) in when a tenant submits a bad check, or puts a stop payment on a check or payment.

Unless you can reach it with one of those fancy long handle flame lighters. 

A lot of people can live really comfortably on way less than they think, if they don't buy fancy cars etc...Have you read about FIRE (Financial independence, early retirement)?

KEEP WORKING, sacrifice some stuff such as latest smartphones, fancy new cars, dining out, shop at discount stores, build up a bit of credit (takes a couple years), show a steady wage for a few years, buy a duplex, live in one side, let the other side pay your mortgage, KEEP WORKING the entire time, you will be amazed how quickly you can start saving money when you take large bills out of the equation such as rent/mortgage.  

No fancy, no-money-down etc. dreams for me.  

If I took the duplex up to the prevailing new/fancy standard for rehabs in town (black appliances, new cabinets, fresh pergo floors, etc) I think they could each rent for $720-$800/month.