I am particularly interested in neighborhoods with strong potential for growth, rental income, and community revitalization.I am open to various possibilities and eager to hear your perspective on these and other up-and-coming areas.

@Megan Tavasto I’ve started using Housie.io, seems to be more comprehensive with background checks and income verification directly from bank, not pdf which can be forged

I'm a Delaware agent and once fully retired I want to focus on adding more investor clients. 

I’d like to use a handful of properties to cushion my retirement a bit.

Larry, If I’m following your math, you need to find a way to increase your income outside of the rental property to cover the mortgage+heloc $1500 payment.

That's a good question. it is technically income to the investor.

I have wondered though if there are government grants/tax credits for providing internet to low income tenants.

As long as you qualify based on income I see no other roadblock. 

My wife is ready to retire from her job and totally into trying out REI, and after watching a  newbie webinar by David Green, she is ready to put up our primary residence as a rental and look for a duplex or multi plex to purchase and live in and rent out the rest.

Such a move could affect your ability to secure future financing by impacting your debt-to-income ratio and overall credit utilization.