A friend has offered to pay me to manage a house he owns in the Greater Hartford area. 

We live in one unit on our duplex consisting of two stand-alone houses in Ventura, California. 

Plan is to start with a multifamily house, or a single family with an in-law suite in the back.

I lost contact with the lady living there but her boyfriend, that I have only met once (he is on the lease but never lived in the house) tells me her ex-boyfriend was creating problems so she moved out and is not able to talk...

I've recently came across this technique of assuming the sellers mortgage when purchasing the house.

Look on Vrbo and Airbnb and see if bigger houses are booked at good rates.

That makes it easier for me or my bookkeeper to identify what those expenses are for and also for me to track progress on whether I am on budget or not without having to put a bunch of effort into that.

With an increasing demand for affordable housing options and steady population growth in the area, small multi-family properties are becoming attractive investment opportunities for investors looking to diversify their portfolios.Spokane offers a unique blend of urban amenities and outdoor recreational opportunities, making it an appealing location for tenants and potential property buyers alike.

Tickling ears just isn't in my wheel house.

Outside of getting a partner to help, I really don't have any creative solutions for you that won't leave you in the poor house at the end of the day.