Handymen are cost effective for small jobs.  

If you are dealing in your home market insurance is very cost effective way to provide protection.

Get yourself some inexpensive business cards, and say something to the effect of buying and selling mobile homes.

My high level thoughts on the rental market in New Bedford (where the property is I'm reviewing) would be that most tenants are probably more suited to a monthly agreement, as you say - better for the flexibility for both parties.

@Erick GarskeNatural landscaping for your area is the most cost-effective to maintain.  

The licensing div. of your State should have some input and the ability to effect some level of response.  

Do you have  enough for all the needed materials but simply lack the money to pay for the labor needed to effect the repairs in total?

I deployed overseas four times and was not able to manage the apartment building effectively, so I hired a property manager when I worked as a contractor in Afghanistan.

You may start out managing but if you don't continue then you will not have budgeted for future PM.First you said, "15% Repair & Cap EX COMBINED" then you said "Repairs are being budgeted at $150 a month" so I was unsure of what percentage you ended up doing.I did 10% vacancy, 5% cap ex (which is low), 18% R&M because your last statement was budgeting $150 per month.Our calculations may differ as I take the vacancy from the Gross Rent to achieve my effective potential (some may call it something else) and then begin deducting things like Taxes, Ins, PM fees, utilities (IF they apply).Since you didn't put taxes nor insurance I put $1000 for each.

I dont have any debt and I have a good financial education (thanks to my husband).I would like to start investing in Real Estate, especially in the US as in France, REI is barely up to 2%.So I'm looking to invest in turn keys properties as it suits my profile.