if I could find a deal at $300/month profit after principle, interest, taxes, insurance, and a $100 maintenance reserve I would say it’s worth doing now (ie.

Conventional mortgages require higher FICO, reserves (money set aside to pay the loan), tax returns...just on that note, they typically won't count any income from the property rents until that money hits your tax returns for 2 years. 

There will be expenses you will have to maintain sure but the appreciation, tax benefit and rising rent/mortgage pay off make it a no brainer. 

What I mean by this is considering how much your down payment returns to your net worth (appreciation, loan paydown, tax benefits, AND rent avoidance).

There are 20+ Tax Pros on this forum.

You get all the benefits of owning real estate (cash flow, appreciation, tax benefits) with none of the headaches of buying, renovating, or managing properties.

We rent out our previous home and bring in $600 a month on it after mortgage, taxes, and insurance, but she doesn't see it as an investment property and so it has been hard to continue investing without her support.

Does anyone know the rules or limitations concerning keeping your homestead exemption and the rules about your taxes when you have declared it as a rental property?

or maybe take advantage of any tax related benefits.I would be happy to give you an opinion of value and even market it to my investor clients to gauge interest.

., tax implications, insurance, etc.)?