If you are ok with the government as your new business partner- looking over your shoulder, telling you how to run your building, dictating what you can charge for rent- then by all means, jump into the section 8 pool.  

Whenever you're investing your funds in a "group", often that means you're investing in a fund or pooled Investment.

One was a large, overgrown trampoline pit in the back yard.

Clotheslines don’t bug me either, and majority I would guess have these in the backyard.

It does cost more to upgrade the panels and run electric lines but it's a cost that I'm willing to pay for with the increased application pool to choose from and I also push my all electric rents higher than the other properties.

I've been looking out of state (Ohio, Atlanta, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, Indianapolis) but if I can find good cash-flow in my backyard that would be great.

I then want a current rr that shows vacancies, concessions, and balance due.If I am still interested, I want to know the age of the roofs, the HVAC, condition of the parking lot, the pool, the staircases, and any other capital improvements or repairs.

@Ryan Pollack MF properties in Phoenix are higher priced due to demand, which is driven by market stability, large tenant pool, low vacancy rate, job prospects, and growth potential of all of the above. 

Some of the stuff I’ve learned involved staging the house, such as proper lighting, opening blinds, making the most of various amenities the house has which in my case was having the gas fireplace lit, the backyard waterfall running, positioning furniture to make the rooms appear more spacious, occasional spritz of air fresheners, and in the winter time a nice apple pie candle lit in the kitchen.

And my handy, the person who installed the floor, told me the tenants have parties for 10-20 people every Saturday and Sunday afternoon in the backyard.