That way you have experience in investing in deals, you have some street cred, you know what it feels like to hit a home run, or what it feels like to think you're going to get a monthly check and don't.   

You'll have to separate out the numbers at tax time anyway and having to reconcile the various properties each month imposes a control that forces someone with check signing authority to evaluate - did we get our money on the winners and is what we owe on the losers properly substantiated. 

The rest is maintaining these items to completion and doing quality checks prior to inspections.

Too lazy to type, so check out my profile for my perspective on Bay Area investing@Darius Ogloza feel free to talk more about your deals :)

It is also close enough to you that you can reasonably drive up to check it once or twice a year.

That sounds like more where you are - Tired of tenants and toilets but not wanting to pay tax.

Regarding plummbing I check and it will cost 3k-4k.

I clicked the ad to check it and it takes me to his VRBO listing.  

It looks like checking out websites like Zillow and BiggerPockets for cash-flowing properties in Fairfax, Virginia has been a bit tricky.

Don't be a pushover, How to properly vet a tenant, make them pay the house call fees, and do a monthly check and pest control if you manage it yourself to insure the home is being taken care of.