Also be picky with tenants and know the landlord tenant law especially if your parents live there you want them to be comfortable with who is in the unit.

But with every successful transaction, my confidence got a boost, and I got more comfortable taking on bigger projects.

If you're new to this, it may take some time to adjust your expectations and get comfortable.

It depends what your goals are, but I'm inferring that this is a comfort/long term investment as opposed to a quick flip.

Go to some real estate meetups/ask friends who they used to buy a house or duplex where you're at, meet some agents and try to narrow down to one that you feel comfortable working with, wouldn't mind having to go and look at places with.

While I was able to leave my job after 30, it hasn't been comfortable.

In addition to comfort and confidence to manage close by and local knowledge.

You'll have to find your comfort level on how you want to manage it.  

Many of these projects derive 50% or more of their overall profits from reversion cap rate assumptions and some type of compression that probably doesn't exist in the current environment.  

There are other avenues to review but I agree past rental history is important (disclosure I have 15+ doors right now)If you feel bad for them then rent to them.My point is its corporate america and you are blaming the wrong person - you are blaming the corporation but you should be blaming the politicians who create an environment that is tenant friendly and sue happy.