We look for an oppourtunity to improve physical, operational, and economical efficiencies.

Even more so if it is one that you can fix up while you live there and slowly improve it as well to get forced appreciation.

It doesn't cash flow but I just about hit even each month, while gaining equity and making improvements along the way... which is way better than throwing money into rent!

Chances are, there are others in real estate who'd love to be a part of such a group.

I bought my first house for myself in 1997, and paid $50,000 less than the neighbors on either side with similar homes,  put every cent I could lay my hands on into updating and improving it, and seven years later sold it for more than double what I paid for it.

(this is the longest and probably the safest route, also you're probably not able to find a good house on the MLS right now but miracles do happen)If you are looking off the MLS (and there's a chance you can get it on the MLS) look for owner financing where they carry the loan and you pay them. 

I would be interested to see if there's room for added value in finding an underperforming turnkey asset, reducing expenses, pushing rents, improving move-out damage collection, and collecting on other expenses incurred by residents such as utilities, waste-removal, pest control, etc.

Chance, it was easy because where I live there isn't enough housing for renters.

Being so new, I have a lot to learn and continually improvements to be made.

Since this is a diverse community that spends a lot of time with self-improvement-y books/podcasts/etc, I thought some of you might have some ideas.