Some people are able to successfully combine 2 or 3 of those things, but it takes time. 

Then you won't really know what that is like until you have an asset that supports its own management staff that you select.Obviously jumping in with both feet and trying to take down a large project at this point has its own risks and mistakes in general are more costly, but it can be done with the right network of people.One other example, I have friends that combined have only ever worked in retail. 

That's the best your can do as your current title company will be out of service for weeks anyway.Good luck.I rarely go to a closing. but did do one in Vegas at OS national it was a hedge fund buyer I was the seller.. and they had a pureal dispenser on the wall outside the conference room  Pens in plastic that were new ( I kept mine )  but I was the last in office signing they are all now home. 

Repairs are low and CapEx is nonexistent (I figure 15% combined).You're not accounting for insurance.

Because of transaction costs, it's rarely advantageous to hold for less than 4-5 years, unless you're doing a rehab.

My problem is a combination of lack of knowledge and lack of time/skill.

If I want to get all of my costs back within 4 years (or less), I can say what % return "I got", but since percentages lie, if I said ahead of time that I needed to get an average return of that same number, I couldn't give you a specific %return I needed to do...since over a 4 year period, I can go through a number of different combinations if annual % returns...and get a different answer in dollars at the end.If 3 investors started with the same dollar amount (say $100k) and they had different annual % returns for the next 5 years, they would all end up with a different dollar amount at the end...even if the net percentage was the same for all three.Investor A:  +10%,+10%,+10%,+10%,+10%Investor B: +30%,-10%,+40%,-20%,+10%Investor C: +80%,-60%,+70%,-50%,+10%All three started with the same $100k.  

Many people on the forums seem to think thats the case, but rarely is that the actual worst case scenario.   

Yes those prices are rare these days down here. 

I use the combination of cozy and quick books to manage my properties (32 units) here in Berwyn.