Jim you keep doing these post like this and NO ONE is going to buy rentals ever again LOLbut seriously I like that you balance out all the blue sky and bring reality to the equation.buying rentals is not a set it and forget investment no matter what.can be with really special A class to strong B class but no way with blue collar 800 to 1000 dollar tenants.. don't care where how or what.. they are all people. some are pigs some are clean and neat some in the middle and you can't tell with an application .I suspect if you took the time to go check out their automobile before you rented to them.. or did a sneak pop in on where they are living now before they move into yours you might catch the pigs before they move into your freshly rehabbed home.

getting a Real Estate License is not that difficult, and the education you will get will be beneficial,  if you are a hustler you can make a ton of money just selling houses, and if you want to wholesale you can give a seller the option to list if wholesaling wont fit. 

Due to the lack of duplexes, it is very difficult to find comps within reasonable time.  

I would probably put down 400-500K and ask seller to carry balance for 5-7 years. 

Due to the lack of duplexes, it is very difficult to find comps within reasonable time.

Though, you may have a difficult time keeping them maintained for the long term.

Title company probably called and got the current water balance but the bill had not been generated as of closing.I agree you should review the numbers to confirm but I don't see what the problem is.

I know it's typically not great.I realize this is a wide open question, but I enjoy people's opinions on this board - any thoughts on paying down the balance of the rental to keep it cashflowing versus just buying a 3rd property?

I am interested in flipping and buy and hold at this point, but I am open to a balanced investing strategy. 

I rent houses and its difficult to get a good tenant .