We tried an outsource screening service once, but were unsatisfied with their process - which was designed for Class A tenants.With 3,000 units, an outsource company would probably promise to modify their processes to whatever you wanted that was legal.

Over the the episodes from the past two weeks, David from the BiggerPockets podcast has brought up that real estate will be harder and harder to from the "small guy" to get into each year due to factors like: inflation, hedge funds being hyperactive in the market, the lack of supply and high demand causing an increasingly competitive market, real estate being a more attractive investment for our current economic condition, etc... 

Yes, I agree that any needed maintenance work is just needed and expected (roof, mechanicals, etc) and not substantially change any values, so to focus on what may attract good tenants and higher rents (adding a deck or dishwasher, etc.). 

The property is also in a very attractive location, within walking distance to the downtown area, and has an extremely rich history as it is was the historic town hospital. 

We spent a little more then usual because we wanted the finished product to be hi quality and we spent on nicer finishes, design and staging.

In my experience, if the rental income doesn't attract an investor at the price, you won't even get any bites from the investor pool. 

Our next real estate investment is our own house we’re build on land we own in MN using Landmark Home & Land company that provides full service support to owner builders with their kits from design to permitting to completion.

I've owned a bunch of waterfront property, kind of an attraction for me, on rivers, creeks, stream, and others close by. 

It sounds like you're close enough to town that if you get a social media following you can attract a lot of people.

Creative and optimistic folk with great attitudes are attracted to RE, which is both our strength and our weakness.