I tried using him a few years ago and we were at the bottom of his list because the warranty company only paid him $35 an hour, which is half what he gets on a normal call.

Choose neutral colors that will appeal to a wide range of tenants.Upgrade lighting: Replacing outdated light fixtures with modern, energy-efficient options can not only improve the aesthetic of your rental, but it can also save your tenants money on their energy bills.Update kitchen and bathroom hardware: Swapping out old faucets, handles, and drawer pulls for newer, stylish options can make a big impact in these high-use areas.

Additionally total housing inventory total 970k units last year, an increase from 2021 but the second lowest supply on record.Low supply is one of many factors contributing to existing to a twelve year low in existing US home sales in December, it may also be an indication that the 'bottom' of the market is being reached. 

It was a problem lot that no one wanted because there was a large hill that restricted the building area and that required a retaining wall at the bottom and a slope stability report.

Preparing includes not investing at the top, and garnering funds and education so that you are ready and able to invest when the next bottom comes.What could cause the bubble to pop?  

Bottom line is real estate has a significant amount of risk in the US .. so choose your markets well.. make sure you have LOTS of reserves for the unknown.. other wise there are much safer investments out there frankly. 

I would be very careful of this option of buying a home with  the plan to rent out a finished basement (mother-in-law or accessory apartment) and then move out and rent both the top and bottom. 

Bottom line, it could be legit. 

I kept a little cash pile for safety but was dumping it all into the bottomed out real estate market.

Similarly, If I purchase a cash neutral unit but the rents are going up >$100/month per year (many high appreciation markets have been experiencing this level of rent appreciation) it does not take long for the cash flow on this initially poor cash flow unit to leave the good cash flow unit in the dust.