. #2 Stay focused and remember you are in control

If you buy the 3 fam your rental income would be probably around 6,900 and assuming you're borrowing the same amount of money as you currently have on your mortgage then your monthly payment should still stay around 2000.

If he smokes outside, you may want to consider setting up a smoking area further away from the house to entice him to stay farther away.

But also @Linda D. makes an extremely good point, in the mean time, stay extremely engaged in surrounding yourself with like minded REI individuals as this will continually remind you and motivate you to stay accountable to your WHY you are doing this. 

Section 8 tenants usually will stay longer periods of time because theres a waitlist. 

We’d prefer to stay in the 2-4 bedroom, 1800 SF or less range.

@Lennon LeeDo you cash the LP’s out when you refinance them and keep the asset or for yourself or do they stay in the deal?

It is only a 4 hour drive and I have friends in the area to stay with if need be.

@Mark DiGioia there are numerous property management softwares out there that can help you collect your rent online as well as provide other property management features.

The deposit must stay in title company, a third independent company.