When you're competing with many other first time home owners and a shortage of product, it's extremely difficult to enter in.

The refinance will hurt my existing cashflow at this group of properties but it’ll actually shorten my payoff period from 23 years to 20 years due to the change in loan product. 

My current profession is as a line production manager for an automotive company.

Thanks so much for the suggestions, @Stephen Brown, @Jared Hottle, and @Jonathan Greene! 

I recommend reading David Greene's BRRRR book to learn more about the best strategy (in my opinion) for acquiring 1-4 unit rental properties!

@Robert Williams - Not sure which episodes but I know @David Greene goes in-depth on building your team and what he calls your core 4. 

You have a green lawn and aren't upset about it, the tenant doesn't have to pay a water bill and everyone is happy.  

Some providers take the approach that a furnace or water heater with several years of expected life shouldn't be replaced in the rehab, but that the final product should be priced accordingly.

As I've been progressing through David Greene's Long Distance RE Investing, I find myself still getting cold feet when it comes to reaching out to professionals in these areas of interest- he makes it sound so easy! 

Los Angeles has 900 miles of alleys that could be reclaimed as green conduits for pedestrians and bikes.