I always listened to the podcast episodes but never thought to join the forum or be involved..

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

I don't use Land Trusts for reasons too involved to get into here but some people have no problem using Land Trusts.

I have just 3 properties totalling 80,000 square feet.

Kannapolis has a totally revitalized town square, and a massive research park downtown that is establishing themselves as a medical research authority in the region with very low prices to accommodate investment.Waxhaw has some of the best (if not the best) public schools in the Southeast.

My wife and I purchased our first home one year ago in Lincoln Square.  

However I am also getting involved in some syndications, and when I look at these deals the syndicators are getting rates sometimes in the 3's. 

The problem we are having is almost half of the finished house square footage is below grade which is a walkout basement. 

Regarding the rent you can get, I would use rentometer for guess, I would ask your agent for a guess, I would check it against $1/square Foot for a guess, and I would check it for $400/bedroom for a guess (in a good area of Metairie). 

If I moved out of my area to an area with different building stock, I would probably be more nervous and want an inspector involved.