That's right—we haven't seen rates like this in over a YEAR.And here’s more great news for buyers...the market has more properties available than this time last year, leading to a slight drop in median prices.Now is the time to make moves.

Typically, when rentals have been on the market for that long here in Columbus, it's because they're asking too much for rent. 

Also it is so much easier today with the internet.

There are newbies starting late in life and are simply not good at being online or using internet.  1000%. 

The landlord insurance market in Houston, particularly Harris County, has become more challenging, leading to fewer insurers and higher premiums.

I've been doing some direct marketing here in the Sacramento CA area.

In the current market, that would be tough to do at anything over 75%.

I did think about perhaps offering to rent to them for a specified amount of time at below market value (enough to cover the taxes) till they can get things figured out.I want to do everything I can so not to come off as a prick.  

Did you do the market research?

Find an investor-friendly real estate agent in the market you want to invest in because a typical realtor is not as familiar with how to evaluate the potential of a property for investment purposes.