Usually I cruise the surrounding 2 blocks in every direction to get a feel of the neighborhood and see what else is going on in it.

They think nothing of moving every 18 months or so to cruise on to the next sweet deal.I have listened to her and have sworn off the incentives game.

An agency might have some who are really good at turning around an under performing complex, getting it humming along and then turning it over to someone great at managing on cruise control.

@Warren FosterOh, and hire some of my ex-Green Beret buddies to manage the properties and collect the rent...haha cruising around downtown in a HumveeThanks

@John Fedro @Bill Neves I have been "Cruising for cash" the very first trailer I looked into they seller wanted $2000!

Two weeks ago I was in Vancouver BC (my husband entertains on cruise ships so he is in and out of there often) and we took the Grandville route from the airport to the cruise port.

As I cruise Redfin and all the other websites with the same information I realize that I am only looking at what every other investor has passed over. 

@Trevor Walsh I would respectfully dissent from the folks here...the first 3-4 years spent managing my own properties seemed to go really well until a tenant I had in a SFR for 3-years did not pay rent for over 2 months...the property was on cruise and I lost sight...to compound this, most investors will tell you they are making X% ROI on their rentals (or whatever metric), but can't quantify it...this is where a PM can set you straight...I can guarantee the claimed performance of investors properties and actual performance are 2 very different things.The truth of the matter is an excellent property manager will run the property much better than you and be able to increase rents to build in that 8% PM rate...they will also permit you to focus on growth, not managing property...If you want to grow, get your properties handed off to a top notch PM asap.If you are buying in C-class locations, you will not be able to recruit a top-notch PM...you'll be client number 2,001....and if you are spending all your time managing your property manager, you should have just managed it yourself the whole time.In agreement with the folks above, self-managing is priceless for education.Best of luck

Tenant's all set, move-in is take-off and from their, your up and running, and time that things should be on "cruise-control".

That is why there's plenty of people that do the @Mark Fries model, get a bunch of homes paid off and put it on cruise control while you do other things.