I use a prompt similar to the following: "I am writing an article on the relationship between rental prices and inflation.

This will insulate you from price increases from service providers as well as service abuse from a resident.If you share utilities, you can install submeters or use a Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS). 

Seems like there has to be options that are relatively low(er) risk and can provide a foot in to start growing funds.Here are some possible budgets and I'd love your input on how you would start out at some or each of these price points:$10K, 20K, 30K, 40K, 50K, 60K.

@Season Price Usually, when we are searching for lenders, title companies, plumbers, etc. it's best to ask other investors in your market who they use.

Every system you try will have flaws, or you may salivate over a feature that appears in other software.Some familiar names are mentioned frequently: Stessa, Apartments.com, RentRedi, TenantCloud, Innago, RentManager, Avail, Rentec Direct, Doorloop, etc.I recommend conducting thorough research on each app online to understand their offerings, pricing, etc.

But I'm also of afraid of missing out on a good opportunity to get a townhome in a expensive popular area at the price point and interest rate I find to be favorable. 

If you do not plan to live there buy it as either as a Seond home or investmet.Second Home is 10% down - seller can offer seller credit to cover closing costs.Investment Home - 15% down - Selelr credit but ony 2% of sale price Max.Pull cash out of your primary or another property via cash out refinance or LOC for the down payment.Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Your property management payments will be higher for C to D areas at those price points. 

I reached out to realtors in my target area, & they set me to receive emails when multi-family homes in my target price show up on the market. 

(Interview them like anyone else and price shop).