We self manage allow us to keep firm control, lower vacancies.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.

One of the things I did when I started was to just go for control of property that was run down or vacant or whatever by using the old straight option.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.

I am now venturing into other strategies, but buy and hold with a good interest rate and a payment you can control when the rents don't come in is powerful overtime. 

I'd rather focus my efforts towards building a following and culture that is mine, which I control, and will hopefully make money from down the road.

It may work well for them and it's a winner even if they work 50 hours a week as they were making 20k before and they control their own destiny. 

If these folks have lived there for a while maybe they are just a little control freakish about protecting their complex - especially if the last person was deviant and there are a bunch of renters - they probably have been through a lot and have to stay on top of things.  

I have a rent-controlled apt at a decent rate here and am happy to stay put for awhile while learning about real estate.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.