For 15 years you manage to save up $20k per year and you have the missing $300k to pay $400k in cash.

I thought it was incredibly hypocritical when I worked for a bank and got those requests from "risk management".

In choppy markets, being a hard money lender allows you to capitalize on opportunities without directly owning and managing properties.

You didn't even mention tenants who don't pay rent, evictions, vacancies, HOA violations, the consistent rise in taxes and insurance, bad property managers, and the many other issues that cut into your profit. 

Most stay, they're still below market rents.Our maintenance management system has a ticket that either gets satisfied or generates follow up visits to inquire about the lease anytime they're at the property on other business.

Howdy @Chris Wilson I too am a buy and hold guy here in okc and also a property manager.

If so, how did you learn to manage your rentals well?

If you manage properties, what do you typically see? 

I am currently a utility engineer making over 100k/ yr, should I consider pivoting into the developer or construction management space for experience?

Do you have the skills needed to manage it well and prevent losses?