We like the less expensive/rural areas as they seem to generate higher RoRs.If you're looking to network locally, there is a great REIA meet up in Matthews, NC I attend weekly and would highly recommend.

For this reason, I'm thinking about charging an extra cleaning fee if leases are renewed or offering the guest to have a cleaner come in at their expense (if it were me and I had to pay it either way I'd pay the cleaner and not have to do the work myself).

And what about expenses in 2023 when the property was not listed?

Often business owners make the mistake of writing off too many expenses to save on taxes, but then they don't show enough income to qualify for a loan.  

Self managing is great to reduce expenses.

There's a strong chance that if you hire one of the cheaper guys, you'll get a bandaid patch job that will be temporary but it will end up being more expensive in the long run if you plan to own the property for a few years, as you'll end up needing more bandaids until you bite the bullet and replace it all anyway.

What I would encourage you to do is to compare how much cash you currently have invested out of pocket in the deal and also calculate what the cash flow is for that property.Cash flow is the income (rent) minus all expenses: mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance), average maintenance costs, capital expenses (new roof, hvac, water heater.

I was thinking about midterm rental by UCD med center, but the Elmhurst area is too expensive, and Oak Park is too dangerous in my mind.

Thank you Elliott, is one of the criteria is that it has to cash flow over a certain amount of the mortgage and expenses?

Here is the form that should be used for all Fannie/Freddie loans:  Rental income worksheet Make sure you have someone who knows what they are doing before you default to a more expensive DSCR loan.