If you want to juice your yield a bit you can buy floating treasuries and eliminate any duration risk of rising rates. 

Your propose in screening is to discover the lies and eliminate those applicants.

@Kim ThrailkillIn your exampleCalifornia will require you to file a California resident tax return where you report worldwide income(including the rental income in Arizona).Arizona may require you to file an arizona non-resident tax return where you report the rental income on property located in Arizona.While you are reporting the income on both returns, California will provide you a credit for taxes paid to Arizona, which eliminates double-taxation.Ultimately, California has a higher state income tax than Arizona which means ultimately, you are going to pay taxes to California when you have positive rental income.The great thing about rental properties is that you can potentially have a tax loss while having positive cash-flow.

This elimination of my living expense is allowing me to save up for deal #2 this year. 

The proposed law essentially eliminates new land contracts in ohio if it passes as it requires a warranty deed, 5% max interest rate and you must foreclose.

Often you, and the tenant, will see there is no significant difference in price after the repair.NEVER offer to reduce or eliminate rent unless you'd be willing to do that for all of your tenants when they ask you.  

MF (6+ units) as it 1) eliminates bidding against emotional homeowners 2) simplifies financing 3) more doors under one roof·  BRRRR, buy & hold, flip?

But if you can pluck the properties while they're on their way to Niagra Falls you eliminate the above mentioned issues.

Get rid of the problem then move ahead with a better deal.I can't imagine refinancing to 30 years is going to eliminate your negative cash flow when all hidden costs are considered.

That helps weed out some tenants at the lower end of the price range...It may take a month longer to rent that way, but eliminates a lot of hardships later down the road.