And the back of the property is technically an alley but there are homes that face the alley as if it were a street. 

You are paying barely anything to agents. 

Not because of what has not happened, but about what passive investors should expect as bare minimum.  

One is being rented but I barely get any profit and the other is being renovated and is owned free and clear.

Read it, study it, start developing processs for handling marketing, screening, collecting rent and deposits, late rent, unauthorized pets, early lease termination, and the myriad other problems you're going to face in the future.Final note.

Where there specific struggles your facing that makes you feel like you need coaching ?

But we could barely eek out 3-5% during the big run up from 2005+.

I'm an oversea investor and i'm starting my journey on REI.When i'm still during the preparation stage and market analysis, one of the biggest challenge i'm facing is the financing.

Maybe one about STR on BP if that is in your market and your investors have interest.Teach a class about investments....Set up searches that might interest your clients and then send out those properties....maybe searches they can't do on the public facing sites....like $/sqft....what's your average, where do prices start at attractive $/sqft, etc.   

If you paid $130k, that MIGHT be ok if it was 100% turnkey and rented for $1400, but just barely OK given the current interest rates.