Details:*Willing to spend ~$180k; Prepared to put 20% down on a Grand Rapids rental property*Not seeking a fixer*Will need to hire a property management company Goals: The obvious: passive incomeDuplex, triplex or single family w guest unitPurchase a home with tenants already occupying and generating rental income Top-of-mind concerns:*Winters in MI wear and tear on roof, pipes*Cost of property management, costs to heatTenant selection, How-to from Los Angeles to MI*Offer / escrow process How-to from Los Angeles to MI

If you need a detailed written bid, I can do that also for a small fee which will be credited back if you hire us. 

I am assuming 26% for expences that I mentioned in my previous post, I may be off but I don't think I am too far off.Unless I do my own maintenance and property management I don't see how the numbers work, even if I can pull that off for now then the properties number won't work in future as I expand and want to hire management as the cash flow will be negative.

Did you hire a PM?  

If you only want help to get the tenant in place, then yes, you can hire an agent to lease. 

I'm free for the summer (May through August), so hopefully I'll have the opportunity to shadow at least one investor (first-timer or expert).Also, I have included the option of hiring me as an assistant, if needed, so it can be a mutually beneficial relationship.

I've been somewhat successful in prepping an apartment, hiring cleaners, maximizing profits per sq. feet (which is always tricky).  

Do established agencies even hire newbies?

I know that all sounds harsh, but if you aren't up for the challenge of being hard, than you need to hire that out.  

I know this will vary for the individual and the type of investment, but it seems most are happy if the mortgage is covered and it cash flows some minimal amount.For an STRP, its not completely passive as I would be hiring someone to handle the listings/cleaning but its much less work than the business I own.