Also, should we endure another market correction, atleast we would have the funds to carry out any mortgage obligations in the unlikely event we face increased vacancy (very uncommon in my area).

Sounds like you've endured a lot and I bet there are more than a few things you could offer with your experience.

Louis is such a profitable market, it's worth enduring the headaches though!

You really need a few failures and setbacks, not to mention enduring some grinding moments like scraping peeling paint or cleaning toilets before anyone is going to take you serious about developing real estate.

An accountability partner can help you succeed faster, but most people's lives are not that successful and you can ask people to be an accountability partner, to "get on you" when you are lazy, when you want to procrastinate, when you want to hide in a corner.Being successful in business, I think what was valuable, is to read about what great entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates had to endure, had to suffer, for many years, before they became great successes.I wish everybody on BiggerPockets a great spring, but it's time to stop thinking, stop reading, and go talk to sellers, and get a coach if that is what you need.Best wishes,Brian@Dev Horn@Ned Carey@Michael Carbonare@Rick Harmon

Without a strong foundation, nothing will endure!

Consider the trends, including employment and neighborhood aging.Then, learn and understand everything about the neighbors.Then, if you still consider the property to be an investment opportunity that meets your personal/business established risk and workload vs. reward standards, explore the subject property and make a list of all repairs and improvements deemed necessary to bring the property to an above average in the neighborhood - above average to better ensure an enduring investment.

I have 8 months under my belt so far and have endured as much or more "setbacks" as I've ever seen in all my years of land-lording (lots of appliance replacements, A/C fixes, idiot guests that demand refunds due to crumbs in the toaster [no joke], and even the dreaded HOA Special Assessment.

In some cases friends are enduring the pain. 

A Southern California family was awarded $1.6 million after they endured a months-long bedbug infestation that left a young boy with scars all over his body.