To find value on residential 1-4 unit properties you could ask your realtor to run comps or complete a CMA(Comparative Market Analysis) on a subject property once you find it.or you can find the value on your own.We use prop stream to run comps. 

There are no laws restricting mark-to-market rents. 

How often do you use it personally or let friends/relatives stay? 

I would charge them $5,000 with the ability for them to earn back $2,500 and I'd have a call with them every other week to guide them on how to find deals and money lenders and how to get the properties fixed up and get them refinanced, etc.

In a highly competitive tourist market like New Orleans, I update my photos weekly. 

Find others who are doing what you want to do in the particular niche you want to invest in.

The investors I know finding properties on the MLS are making 30+ offers a week, embarassing offers, in hopes of finding 1 or 2 properties a month.Others are door knocking, cold calling, spending money on mailers to find off market properties.  

As you move into your townhouse in Odenton and eventually aim for multifamily properties, you might want to start refining your metrics (like cash-on-cash return and cap rate) to compare performance across different property types.Looking forward to seeing how your portfolio evolves.

Purchase price: $73,000 Cash invested: $25,000 Current market rent $1295 vs $1300 for Section 8.

For us that's 15% off the top line