My question is "when do they select those 1000 returns?"

I highly recommend interviewing multiple contractors and ask them for references. 

Back when I started selling foreclosures, the REO (real estate owned) inventory was crazy high.

I highly recommend investing in a property management software, such as Hospitable, for syncing your calendar, automating messaging, and scheduling cleans, as well as a dynamic pricing tool, such as PriceLabs, for optimizing your pricing based on market demand, local events, and seasonality. 

Wishing I had bought a duplex or really any piece of property straight out of high school for a jump start but here I stand. 

We have a reasonably high income from our W-2’s and rents with annual income in the $250k+/year depending on bonuses & OT worked and is usually closer to $300k.

We’ve booked yurts in Colorado (hike in only at high altitude, bring all your own stuff), remote cabins in Northern MN, etc.

high-quality, well-lit photos tend to attract more attention from potential renters. 

Excluding the periods of “tulip bulb” irrational exuberance, a property must produce enough of a risk adjusted return to satisfy both the ROI demands of the “limited partners”, and the income/time requirements of the sponsor.  

I own a 4plex there and I have one unit that has been vacant for about 4 months now and this seems on the high side of vacancy time.