Just don't trick yourself to think its not an equally large hassle for reasons other than what you're experiencing currently

I have paid wayyyy too much money to those gurus to learn tricks to the trade but thankfully I have found Bigger Pockets.

Single member LLCs can also do the trick if you are an experienced value-add investor.Investing this way:Avoids the single family residence mortgage interest cap to take advantage of significant tax interest deductions.Lets you be on the winning side of the age-old argument that "everyone needs somewhere to live".Lets you take advantage of expensing all of your capital expenditures immediately when they are incurred to offset your normal income taxes from your day job and potentially pay no taxes at all in a given year.

The trick isn't to get renters, it is to make them not move!

The trick is to have enough deal flow that you can let those almost deals pass by and know there will be another.  

The trick is to find a realtor who specializes in REI properties vs. owner occupied home specialists.You can actually start out through Zillow, Trulia, etc. in looking for investment properties, not to buy, but to get the listing agents contact information.

They know all the tricks.

What are some things you watch, read, think etc that keep you motivated and positive on a daily basis?I feel like now more than ever keeping a strong and healthy mind is going to be key to success until things go back...

From what I've always seen, kitchens are what will rent or sell a house, followed by the master bath.I'm not saying to make this rental into a showcase, but there are lots of tricks you can do inexpensively to make it shine....

Trick is there aren't many HUD foreclosures any more and may not be any in the area you want to live.