There are some great programs out there offered by reputable, successful people.Armed with the right gameplan and mindset, you'll be able to use other people's money to fund your deals.

If you go turnkey, this means vetting providers (and their numbers) until you find something that adds up, has a good reputation, good references.

Its a college town so houses rent fast and we have a known reputation for keeping good houses and being decent and flexible with the tenants.

After giving them $500 on a total of $5,500 I have found out that Tony Martinez once operated under another business name - Asset Ventures, LLC - and did not have a good reputation.

I’d just have to pay a higher amount for a reputable repair company to do it for me.

Wilmington doesnt have the best reputation but the friend is an up scale kinda guy so I can’t imagine his first house would be in a bad area.

Other wise, painting a 1 story could be done in a weekend with a friend,  $300 for brushes, tape, plastic,  and $1200 or so for 30 - 35gallons of paint ( $40 / gallon should be excellent quality ) for 2000 sq feet. 

Most reputable landlords wouldn’t try to pin those on you, but it’s good to have backup in case you need it when you move out.

If the renters are stable, good tenants, and law abiding, then it would indicate the neighborhood is not as bad as its reputation.

. :)Network, go to local investor meeting, reach out to people on Bigger Pockets and MARKET yourself as a reputable business that can find off market deals.