Being a first time landlord I may have under priced my rental but it covered the mortgage and I have been without a tenant for a grand total of 15 days in 6 years.

I have 3 properties and I learned everything from podcast, you tube and conferences.

I am just getting started, and I would be grateful to hear how you did it.

I love the beach and I live in Madeira beach Florida.

Learning how to manage a house you've purchased is far more complicated.

It was always a longer-term hold (also 60s built) and I feel like we are near or at the bottom of the current cycle, and if I'm not forced to sell then why would I do it during a time that I think is closer to the bottom?

Holdover tenancy is addressed by a significant rate increase for every day (I use 150% of market rent as that seems to be a reasonable enough number that a court would allow + costs associated with their refusal to leave) and I have wording that if I can't turn over the unit for any reason outside my control, I'm not liable. 

Hi Roland, I also lives in DFW area and is interested in joining.

Vacancy can vary, but if you work with a good property manager, you shouldn't have your property vacant longer than 60 days out of the year. 

I'm closing on a duplex in a couple weeks and I'm considering using a property manager vs. self-managing.