@Champ LeongFor the lower cash back transactions like 1% can consider replacing with Yotta debit card.

There are some that manage to find the money and the deals quickly when the market is just right (and they have plenty of cash), but most success is built slowly, over time.Increase earnings, reduce expenses, save up, invest.

You want to have turn expense and vacancy for a guest smoking near the front door and staying more than 7 days.

Quality over quantity.This massive scale & leverage philosophy on the lower entry/lowest hanging fruit markets is excellent for spreadsheets.

And just to clarify if anyone else is reading this: buying an interest rate cap, while effectively buying down the interest rate is NOT like buying down the rate on your personal mortgage.A point on your personal mortgage locks in the lower rate for 30 yrs and the mortgage fully amortizes.  

For example, cleaning a 2br condo will be much less expensive than a 5br home with a pool and hot tub. 

It is semi-durable, easy to clean, easy to install and in-expensive.

I checked out neighborhoodscout.com but I am wondering what good competitors are out there, and if there are any free (or lower cost) alternatives.

:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+, zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680, some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

@Mark C. for full anonymity, you'd need a Wyoming or Delaware LLC, but that can get expensive and complicated.