Investors tend to fall in love with certain properties they own, and stick with them even if something better comes along.  

If not, stop what you are doing and don't analyze until you look at 10-20 homes in your area just to get a feel for smell, repairs, foundations, etc.Too many new investors are talking about how many deals they are analyzing when they have never even seen a property.

5) Consider meeting with a few agents in your area even if you are just getting started!

I confront him all the time on this and he says it isn’t him, even when I have witnessed it with my own eyes.

Even the transaction paperwork we pay for dearly. 

BTW: The 75th percentile rent for market rate apartments with only w/s/t included even in N Collinwood is $1064.

Sometimes, sellers might require a smaller down payment or even none at all.

The pension amount at age 39 is not enough for me to feel comfortable, so my long-term plans are to start a small business and invest in real estate to position myself where I don't even need my pension, and it's just a bonus.

When you say not that great are you at least breaking even on the STR?

Inflation is a reality, and it is not going away (even in good times, the target is 2-3%/yr).