There are a lot of rough spots so you have to be willing to take the good with the bad but the growth is there.The opportunities are there, once you drive the area and get a feel for it, you can start attacking it.  

The only spot for it is in the kitchen.

Finances are at a good spot, but can’t really build a team yet.

Is there a "sweet spot"?

It sounds like we're about in the same spot on our REI adventure, would love to connect with you and hear some of your thoughts on the area/what you're learning so far!

I need to add 1 more parking spot for my tenant. thanks

But your advice is spot on if the OP is going to pay he should get a Lien release signed.. we don't require notary . but what we do is say check is here come and get it my office has the lien release filled out.. they sign it we hand the check.and in practice even the banks in Oregon will just put a notation on their checks  job paid in full.. and they feel a cancelled check is sufficient.. but we are sticklers for lien releases. as much as anything we need them to get early issue title insurance. 

Like any area I am sure there are a few decent spots but not somewhere I would generally advise someone who is not from to be looking into investing.

So say you go that route.... you have $4800 in cash saved and now down to bare bones debt issues.... good spot to be. 

The most common problem is not the feel good intentions of the owners, it is the lack of knowledge of proper dog training.It is easy to spot a scumbag-gangbanger-a-hole-criminal-felon with an aggressive dog(unfortunately, almost always a pitbull) but, the real problem will be when those good tenants with jobs, good credit and kind hearts, are so puzzled as to why their perfect little 70lbs sweet pitbull baby bit someone.Lastly, a question to the OP.