@Gayle Eisner Before the next fire comes along you might as well just shop around for replacement properties for a 1031 exchange and see if one catches your eye.

I am mainly looking to switch career paths (currently in corporate finance), as I would love to get into the Real Estate industry in the Boston, MA area as an investment/operations analyst.

I'd keep an eye out and only sell after I have my new purchase under contract.   

I have tenants that I could give max allowed rent increase and they would still be below market rent and it is not easy to catch back up with the market rent.The rent increase you are considering (3% to 5%) should occur to protect your investment. 

You get to put eyes on the property every few days.

They will also be able to help account for closing costs and give your broker direction depending on how much cash you have saved up to incorporate this into the offer (ie. in closing costs)2) There are online platforms as well as local agencies that have state specific lease agreement templates.

I have zero retirement savings and am eager to start building a passive-income portfolio so I am not a burden to my child.One of my biggest hurdles is that I need to boost my income so that in the bank's eyes I can afford the mortgage payment BEFORE collecting any rent.

He played the big shot moneyman right up until a week later, when I found him naked in bed with his furry privates out, high as a kite on some kind of smack, blubbering his eyes out over a 400-lb equally naked woman who had just been brought back from death's door with Narcan by paramedics from the three ambulances and five cop cars blocking up the street my duplex is on."

Really eye opening for you to point out diversification - this is good to keep in mind especially as I continue to educate myself on what market will best suit me.

The fact that my tenants won't need to do that themselves is part of what makes it a premium rental in my eyes vs. a small SFH.