That may mean going for a different market, and/or alternative asset type.

Buying a single family home means you're covering all these costs as well.Don't forget about the additional upfront costs especially since they're new builds, furnishings, decor, electronics, cable/internet, small appliances, kitchen wares, window treatments, etc.    

I've already offered a month free rent to get them to leave, because the alternative (hiring asbestos abatement, asbestos consultants and crap) would have been much more than the rent.

I appreciate the alternate perspective and generally agree with the sentiment.

@Matthew GardnerThere are too many tax benefits to mention in just one post and in such great detail.You should research the following termsDepreciationCapital gains tax treatment on sale of rental propertyQualified opportunity funds / qualified opportunity zones1031 like kind exchangescost segregation analysisbonus depreciation / 179 expenseStep-up in basis at deathEtc

You need a minimum of .5 acre for the septic and if it is less than an acre it requires an advanced treatment system.For $1500 - $1900 I highly doubt the availability of power, water, and sewer.There is little to no appreciation on these, there are tens of thousands of lots still available.Sent me what you have and I can give you a read on them.

If I were to max out my 401k, I would still fall short of the recommendations for saving and so I started to look at alternatives.

Alternative is to wait, build my personal capital, and make move locally.

Their next best alternative is a one bedroom apartment that’s like $1200-1600/mo.

Is it important to do as much upkeep as you would for your own property (biweekly mowing, regular fertilizer treatments, aeration, etc)?