It seems like a pretty smart way to get one's foot in the REI door, gain some property management experiences, build equity and get solid financing.  

It worked so well that last year I ended up buying one house on the street then bought the next door house after talking to them and I am currently working on buying the next house over right now.

He could also need access to your wifi for smart home features like keypad door locks, thermostats, lighting, etc.  

@Ivan Barratt Checked out 10x Rule  at my local library today and that is thinking like the millionaire next door!

Consider rent for other units in comparable condition a little further from your property particularly if next door is in much poorer condition.

Call, find them on FB, mail to the heirs, put a door hanger on the front door asking for anyone who can get you in touch to call you, etc.  

Have done it before and they tore everything up - repeatedly dug holes, chewed sprinkler heads clean off, chewed all the wires in the sprinkler valves, chewed the bottom of a door off (still baffled by that one), chewed fence boards off (multiple times), etc. 

What I'm wondering is if I where to go knock on the door and the owner does in fact still live there.

While I assume multi unit brokerages are more niche and more challenging to get your ‘foot in the door’, perhaps I could assist a broker or team and start that way.2.

So do you charge $150-$500 per pad, or is that how much you make from each door?