In my opinion investors need to have a good understanding on maintenance and repair issues, as well as what it takes to handle improvements. 

and job stability and former verified LANDLORD REFERENCES            ( check tax records to make sure you are talking to the property owner NOT a tenant prospects cousin.Ok,  THE SUMMARY :                                      LOW RISK & COMMON SENSE1.

Mine used someone elses name on the permits without me checking then he got deported before finishing the job. 

Heavy renos (gut jobs) usually are around $75/sq ft. 

You do this so that it lowers your monthly payments and allows you to improve cash flow on the property.

I once carried my R.E. in the early ninety's , but with 4 young children and a full time job , it was hard to dedicate any time to the industry.

Within 12 months, I improved my credit score, got approved for a VA loan, and bought my first duplex!

Here's the front of the house with the new paint job.

You may not get landlording experience but you'll get maintenance, financing, and paperwork experience.I think the discussion points in your head and with them are around what kind of improvements they would need or desire (if you have to make it elderly accessible that could be a selling point for the next tenants, but what if they want something that will cause you more upkeep in the future?)

With both of us debt free, we are starting our wealth accumulation/building phase of our life, and we know we need three things from previous research weve been doing, that is paper assets (jobs,401k,Roth IRA, Tax Accounts...), Business (have a few ideas of some businesses), and what brings us to this awesome place, REAL ESTATE.