.- Niche Knowledge: (STR rules, ADU's, Zoning Expertise, down payment assistance programs, AFH, Opportunity Zones, etc)- Discounting: (If you are new you could always discount your services to add value (reduced commission for brokers, lower management fee, reduced fees for JV's).- Superior Service: Somewhat counterintuitively you can actually add more value despite being new.

You’ll have to pay realtor commissions but usually it’s a reduced deal since there’s no advertising and they’re keeping both sides. 

It will take more work on the property team but will reduce future questions/complains.3.

For that kitchen, I would have installed two $15 to $20 ceiling lights that give better lighting, a cabinet over the stove to drop the fan lower, more cabinets and a tile or linoleum floor.When we remodel units our goal is to do everything possible to reduce maintenance in the future.

Sometimes friends have higher expectations and get upset if it's not 100%, and sometimes friends might not pay immediately... it's just not worth the stress anymore.  

Another vote (from another local) for house hacking here in Socal.A trickle of cashflow from the Midwest is less valuable that reducing your cost of living and building equity here on the coast.Best,Jon

@Deirdre Cullen I would recommend buying used furniture from Craig's List, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace ect. as students can be fairly unpredictable and reducing the cost up front would be the easiest way to reduce your risk.

That will only increase your stress.

If you find something close to where you live and reduce that management fee you can make more money.  

I have a realtor friend who told me it's not good to live with your tenants but I really want to move out of my dad's house (he is a hoarder and the living conditions are stressing me out greatly).