had a few extra things that needed rehabbed and learned to get on problems faster to rehab the property faster.

And no problem just don't put all your weight on my opinions.

In the last few years in the Richmond area the price growth for SFR has been increasing faster than the rental growth with lack of supply and low interest rates being major factors.  

They’ll respect you because they respect their relationship with the agent/manager.That said, paying someone might get you your numbers faster.

I'm starting a podcast to guide the REI community faster into accepting the tech instruments that are being developed around them.  

As you alluded to, you'll most likely get better quality tenants, which leads to faster tenant fill-in, less turnover, higher chance of rent collection, etc.

With your mortgage at such a low rate it makes no sense to pay it down faster with cash.

Phase 1 is the big picture, and it should come first.Money in your retirement account is already your money, and it is already invested in something, and it is growing in a tax-deferred environment, meaning that it grows faster.

Pros- inflation on a 1M house raises value far faster than a 100k home in a smaller home even at 3%Your broker commissions on a 1M house will also eat away much of that inflationary gain if you sell off soon.- Small Town: Your experience will all depend on a) quality of property you buy b) quality of tenants c) quality of property manager.

In the long run it will hurt me more than my tenants if I decide not to pay because as an investor my credit holds weight with lenders and that needs to be protected at all cost.