Your strategy will likely change as the markets shift and your passive income and net worth evolve.

. - ATR and the Qualified Mortgage, together, provide an umbrella for lenders, where the presumption of guilt in litigation is shifted in favor of the lender any time the lender's lawyers can say "we were trying to follow QM and ATR just like you told us to!"

Soon as I knew I wasn't going to follow up with that property, my mind shifted into gear to move on and find the next one!  

But only recently have i shifted my attention to the investment realm.

I shift to talking with them about the move out process.

And when you look at pictures these are not the small little houses that are being affected you see big high end homes.. were I see this going is anyone who is in the fix and flip business is going to have a hard time finding labor.. most contractors are going to go after insurance jobs first.. also I see a lot of foundations shifting so on top of it all.. there will be a ton of crooked houses to add to it..

You can make your rental more competitive (if others lack them) or be on par with the comparable rentals.As to the CONS: Yes, there is the initial and ongoing costs.Sometimes you may feel like an appliance repair person (or that you are funding one's retirement), but there are some clever clauses and practices some on BP use to shift some costs for appliances and for damage (beyond normal wear and tear) back to the tenants.It is one more thing to maintain, clean, and account for as a landlord.

Although I love my job, my interests and family goals have shifted my attention and long-term plan.I am looking to get started with real estate buying and holding long-term.

....I'm not sure why there isn't a more streamlined way to pay yourself for self management while being able to write off the expense. 

When things are tight and competitive locally, I shift and buy in a different market.