You can do the research, join a local apartment association or hire a PM.If that sounds doable to you, you can certainly search online for a property, but if you find a good agent, they should be able to steer you to a property that will serve you well as well as point you in the right direction for any management advice you might need.Best of luck!

No way around good planning and doing your homework.Exactly, I've never done it that way, I'd only use that as an estimate if you were looking at a house online or something.

Online option? 

Question for the experts: is there any reason to not accept prepaid utilities and monthly pet fee?

With all the new apartments coming on line vacancy rates will most likely dip for a period of time

How-to books are inexpensive and in today's world, there are plenty of online blogs and forums loaded with useful knowledge.With preparation (focused self-study) and luck (random events), the right opportunity eventually presents itself.

I've moved into one side and am loving the area but I need to rent the other side soon to actually start having the building (slowly) pay for itself.The duplex has almost fully separated utilities except water.

I'm not an economist or anything but there are a lot of businesses that are embracing remote work in efforts to save money on office space and utilities, not to mention offshoring.

While doing research online I found Bigger Pockets and was introduced to a whole new world of Real Estate that I had never seen, REI.

A legit assistance animal is not a pet, it is an assistive  like a wheelchair in the eyes of Fair housing, Each state does have the right to limited regulation in this area, in WI we can now require documentation form a WI licensed professional, where previously an online Quack could sign off, there are also situations where you can deny, if the animal could cause a problem or pose a health risk for other tenants. be careful on this one and know the law. seek advice from a licensed professional.