I would feel more comfortable paying a normal labor rate as we progress.

I wish I could say that this has progressed some, but we seem to be at a somewhat of a stalemate. 

Would love to get ahead of the path of progress! 

There are so many shiny objects....I'd like to stay in touch and follow your progress

Rents, expense's, cost of turns, path of progress etc.One great book that will benefit you independent of what strategy you pick is Frank Gallinelli'sWhat every real estate investor needs to know about cash flow.....To your success,

@Alexander Churchill, congrats on your progress to date.

After meeting with three prospective managers I made my choice based on local experience, a great conversation and an understanding of my critical nature of how I like things done.Flash forward 3 weeks and I close this week, the manager had been sending every other day updates on progress in getting in to take pictures, review lease details, agree on rents and get the advertising going. 

However I'm as hungry as ever to progress in my real estate career. 

Depreciation is a cost recovery tool.

However, if your goal is maximum cashflow you can probably do better on the monthly ROI, and if your goal is maximum re-sell value you would probably do better to buy in an appreciating area (or a path of progress).