Try to find a happy-medium while keeping in mind carpet & paint rehabs aren't a thing.

There's some good PM companies here that can help facilitate the transition and light/medium repairs.

Having said that, it might be best to search for the happy medium. 

It was awesome stuff not the boxed crap you see..  6  8 10 and 12 foot lengths with random widths truly art..

Most of my jobs are small-medium residential remodels, which is why the box store approach tends to work a little better for me.

Sounds like the prices are at a GRM (gross rent multiplyer) of 10...which is somewhat medium for what we see on the MLS in my part of the country.

Maybe do a happy medium like that?

I could live a pretty satisfactory, full life on $3,000 / month in my medium size town (pop 160,000). 

You could look into possibly doing an MTR (medium term rental) and cater to travel nurses if so.  

If you are at all handy with minor renovations, then you can go shopping for properties with tired landlords and small to medium amounts of deferred maintenance.That's how I would look at getting started.