The PM was frustrated with the owner and my daughter was very disappointed.  

Honestly I'm leaning towards The mid west only because the properties are much cheaper and affordable.

For my wife and I the key frugality has been:-we drive inexpensive cars (Yaris, Escape, both older and used)-RARELY eat out at restaurants-one vacation per year- and it's camping within a day's drive from home (and we already have the gear)-small affordable home (bought in 2012 at the bottom of the market- that was just lucky timing)-0 use of credit cards-and hard work to boost earnings That last one isn't so much frugality- but has been the biggest key to saving for us.

I have reduced the rent by $200 a month as a winter-teaser rate till July, and will see how this goes:-) Sorry for not being able to thank each one of you individually -- I really appreciate you taking the time to help out a (frustrated) small investor! 

We decided to move a year later but couldn't afford to sell the property so we decided to rent it out.

I don't plan to sell which is why it's worth the $100 a month in cash flow now while I still have a W2 job and can afford not to live off the cash flow but rather reinvest it in principle pay down, and then reap the benefits of paid off houses down the road when I retire.

But I am considering purchasing her house from her and then she can pay me what she can afford every month.I have two questions.1) Has anyone ever purchased a house and then rented to a family member, if so, has that experience been more positive or negative?

Don't you have enough "Pro" people paying to afford a better mobile app (that can edit, quote correctly, add images)

First consider what markets you can afford to get into.

Perhaps your first step is buy your primary first 3.bed / 2 bath SFH in the best neighborhood you can afford.