In my opinion, if you enjoy doing it in your free time, make it a profession, and you will not be disappointed. 

Good luck on your journey and feel free to reach out if you ever need any guidance or advice.

& feel free to mention any other passive investing vehicles (in the real estate space) that i haven't listed here!

You should try to find an active investor-friendly agent who is consistently sending you deals through various lead sources they createdAs you continue to work with them, you'll build a relationship with them, and they'll send you these deals before everyone else.Another strategy you can try is looking for wholesalers.

The unexpected increase in coverage leads to a further increase in premiums which we never asked for.

Also, a 3-month try before you lease may be the issue, tenants are using it as an MTR, it gives them far too much wiggle room, and that short-term turnover can start hitting you in the pockets pretty hard...With that said some incentives you can offer are the first and last months rent-free for a 12-month lease.

I highly recommend it.If you have any other questions or need any bookkeeping or tax help, please feel free to reach out.

@Alex Jacobs probably House Hacking is the easiest / most efficient way to get started.Feel free to pm me if you need a lender contact. 

As a contractor I provide free estimates, simply email the prints in PDF and 7-10 business days later you'll get a professional bid.

Feel free to DM me if you'd like me to dig into a few of them based on your scenario.