. - some of the smaller companies still deal with physical paper and faxes and that adds days to the process.6.

Finding properties in physically good condition can be challenging.  

That being said, knowing how to swing a hammer is valuable as well but the basics can be learned in time, you can volunteer with Habitat for Humanity builds, this will not only get you exposed to construction, but help you network with key people, many of the volunteers you meet  are generally business people, like bankers,  attorneys, and business owners, you can always pick up helper work on the side and work on a small crew doing remodel jobs, this will build experience as well. being a union carpenter (i hate unions) will earn you a living, but it sounds like a job and a paycheck is not what your after, take my advice for the price you paid for it, but as a full time investor, i can tell you working in the REO Brokerage side for 10 years, that was way more value than being a carpenter. 

However, some times I need to go into a physical location to do things like get cashiers checks to bring to auctions. 

I'm getting ready to buy another property there, and for me, the turnkey model works well. Be

If a $300K house is being offered for sale for $1250 - there is something wrong: either physically with the property itself or financially.There may very well be a deal here, but tread very carefully lest you find youelf the proud owner of a white elephant.

There are ways to streamline PM business processes with certain software programs, but PM entails physical work on the properties and relationships with people on the ground, always. 

I was simply stating my surprise that some of the top ten appreciating cities in the country weren't beating inflation (again, purely based on the information given above; it could very well be that it was inflation adjusted, pegged to some sort of index, etc.).

Josh L.Most markets affected by technology go through a phase of contraction, but never quite disappear (think physical books, electronics stores, video rental). 

I am Canadian and would prefer to invest locally, where I can physically walk through properties when needed.