Established neighborhood, good school system.

When I did my taxes last year with the H&R Block gentleman, we established that I am renting 41% and then we took 41% of every expense that we could claim and entered it into the system.

I run a real estate business out of Phoenix AZ and I have a lot to say about your issues.

You can find an established and reputable property management company in a nice cash flow market, and they will essentially act as your real estate investment expert in that locale.

This is why at any level investors will establish a minimum deal size they won't go below, or at least the profit percentage of a small deal will have to be much greater than a bigger deal to entice them.

I also agree with those advocating to either establish a relationship with an agent or to become one.

The way I have established market price was actually looking at other listenings on zillow in my area, specifically my neighborhood/block.

It helps a lot to visualize the deal.

I get this from one of our neighbors- a rental if it is run down and has loud trashy tenants and cars on blocks would diminish value and rightly cause neighbors anger-- all our rentals are in well established developments-- I give my card to both side neighbors and ask them to please call us if there is excess noise, traffic, residents,etc-- it creates much good will & I also tell the new renter that we have done this with the neighbors-- it puts renters on notice that you will find out about unmoved lawns, animals, etc. as long as your home looks like a home and not a shabby obvious rental, your neighbors will calm down.

@Frank Curtis , that is a common strategy to purchase then establish cash flow and then refinance to pull your cash out.