These properties can often be acquired through creative financing methods like:Seller Financing: Negotiate flexible terms with motivated sellers who want to avoid traditional bank processes.Lease Options/Subject-To Financing: Take over a seller’s mortgage without assuming full responsibility, especially for properties needing renovation.Creative Terms: Adjust terms to fit market conditions, like offering lower down payments or longer payoff periods.Staying connected with investors and tailoring deals to current conditions can help you secure opportunities even in challenging markets.

If you have a 6 bedroom in an area that does not have a university (students looking for shared space) or is in a family friendly place it may sit vacant longer between tenants.For Capex, try not to use a generic number - look at the roof, furnace, hot water tank, kitchen - when will each need to be done and what will it cost?

For instance, the latest regulation in my state starts: "830 CMR 64G.1.1 repeals and replaces the regulation formerly titled as "Establishments Subject to the Room Occupancy Excise" and reflects the statutory changes enacted by St. 2018, c. 337 and St. 2019, c. 5."

I would be a hot mess if I had to do myself. 

If hourly vendor vs salaried maintenance is what makes or breaks the deal...it's not a good deal.Your best estimates are likely to be from managers/owners of buildings similar to your subject property.

The basics of a seller financed deal are that the title co or closing attorney (if there is one) or seller’s attorney draws up the warranty deed transfers title, the promissory note evidencing the debt related to the transaction, and either the deed of trust or mortgage (whichever is being used) perfecting the lien against the subject property.  

Find three properties and make offers on all three at once subject to.  

Then since your out of control your subject to human nature.

However, there are some drawbacks to putting a rental property in a trust - first setting up a trust can be expensive and involve a lot of paperwork, the rental property may be subject to rent control and liability insurance may be more expensive for a trust.

You mentioned you're reading books on the subject - that's always helpful.