@Karen Polis  suggestion:   align your self with a good local HML  and do some deals with them .. get a few more in your experience bucket before you venture out on your own.there is a lot to this.. seems like there is not. but its simply not that cut and dry

I could picture a scenario where the expenses could feel like they are bleeding one dry a bit and just want to offload. 

For example, it doesn't make sense to accept $100 payments on a $1,350 deposit because you would only collect $1,200 during a one-year lease and you'd only have $600 if the tenant trashed the place and left you high-and-dry six months in.

I'm looking for duplexes and triplexes with only a small amount of rehab needed (ie. painting, carpet to vinyl wood flooring here and there, replacing some wood paneling for dry wall, updating some appliances, etc.).

So please DM me if you have any :) I am quoting out dry wall removal so I can put a full fridge where there's currently a little closet next to the kitchenette for some reason lol.

They know the average joe blow has that small amount of money.They want to extract as much as possible until they run you dry.This is the same in the real estate broker/agent business.They know 90% fall out of business in the first year so they suck you dry selling you everything under the sun.Stick to this forum.I don't give these types a dime.

Students are hard on houses - but not for the Animal House reasons - simply because they are young and do think about repercussions (why wipe up the water on the floor, it will dry);- inspect your units frequently.  

That being said, there are tax benefits to the debt, and often having dry powder so you can take advantage of deals/ opportunities in the future leaves you better off than if you had a paid off property. 

We had plenty of lenders a year ago that would lend at 10% down on a non-warranatable condo, but they have all dried up at this point. 

Whenever a roof surface abuts a vertical wall, moisture intrusion that may lead to damage and rot becomes a risk at the intersection.