Do your own research on what it would cost to efficiently operate the building.

If you're concerned about efficiency, consider storm windows, either interior or exterior.How is heat and HW currently handled?

You may want to even push that to 20% since this is a low-value property, there may be additional costs due to the 18 acres, and with separate buildings, you won't see as many efficiencies of scale.Management will likely be 10-12%.If the water/sewer is town, do the tenants pay that individually?

@Jason Holloway - There's definitely some seller finance opportunities in Sacramento; oftentimes, the terms depend on the seller and what they are looking for.During a transaction, you definitely want to ensure that an escrow or title company is involved to ensure that everything is clean with the transaction, including the actual title itself.The good news is, loan rates are at an all time low right now, so house hacking in Sacramento (either through a duplex or a single family house) is VERY do-able.  

It's just not as efficient as maxing your leverage, but it's also safer and will give you greater peace of mind.

This not only builds trust and credibility, but is simply the easiest way to ensure everyone’s questions are answered.

To ensure success you will definitely want to associate with like-minded people, people with experience and who are already doing what it is you want to do, and people who inspire you… not naysayers, negative people, nor critics.

Take a look at the expenses: are there ways to minimize maybe by offering a cable package or from Water Bill perspective, installing water-efficient plumbing.

If I did have a short term rental (we are in the market for one, hence the trip) I think I would post the additional cleaning and sanitation measures that are being implemented to ensure cleanliness of the rental in between renters.

Put another way, you have equity that is not working efficiently for you.