@Scott Bell, if you have not, great books to read are:• Rich Dad, Poor Dad• The Millionaire Next Door• Cash Flow Quadrant • Tax Free Wealth• Set For Life• Rental Property Investing• The Millionaire Real Estate Investor• The REAL Book of Real Estate• So Good They Can’t Ignore YouYou are more than welcome to reach out if you have any questions.

Poor people analyze risk” - T Harv Eker.

Their Commercial STR insurance product and services has served us well and I would highly recommend them from my personal experience. 

Lack of communication and a poor attitude on their behalf (to say the least I am sure).  

Some of the large investors I know are using products like Buildium. 

Many of the people telling you it’s not worth it owned the wrong kind of property, did a poor job screening tenants and didn’t own it long enough.

If you know your location, you know your renter, and if you know your renter, you reduce the risk of poor tenants, and if you reduce the risk of poor tenants, you keep the cost of owning property to its lowest.

Again, the area really isn't a slum, it's just a poor town.

And they are often blissfully unaware of how much renovations will cost and therefor drive up the price even if the listing is in poor repair.

Perhaps a good place to start is finding a few lenders who offer competitive financing terms and products in the markets you are targeting.