@Cathy Ries Yes, tax planning before acquiring rental properties is highly beneficial, especially given your situation.

Hey everyone,I’m curious to know what strategies have been most effective for you when it comes to finding consistent, high-quality deals.  

You cannot have a contract that simply states "install high-quality countertops" without specifying the quantity, location, type, or style.

BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy.

Applicant credit scores should be treated with a high level of care and should not be handed out when they aren't assured that you are locking them up and taking due care with private and sensitive data.So, many places, including the screening company we used for years before moving to a PM, provide a suitability score rather than the actual credit score. 

, whether there's a high water table that encroaches on any underground utilities or foundations (and does that water table have significant seasonal water level variations), encroachments by roads or other improvements on your property, limitations imposed by easements or rights of way, etc.

Also Condos are dealing with high special assessments.

I don't know how difficult of a task this would be, but suspect it would make for better quality forum content. 

Part of this is the quality of the house.

Many of these lenders allowing 2nds behind them are more expensive capital (10's - 13's in our current market [high rates - but now showing signs of coming down]).