Zillow is free and requires my skills and experience to make it valuable.

Love your planning and organizational skills!!

Over the next 12-18 months, my real estate investment goals are to:1) buy a multi family property as an owner occupant2) become a licensed real estate agent3) continue learning about single family and multi-unit buy and hold strategies4) develop a greater understanding of my local market (where I see few opportunities)5) identify out of area markets where prospects seem brighter such as Baltimore, Richmond, Atlanta (my hometown), and Houston (my next destination if/when I leave DC)6) connect with REI veterans and identify ways my skills can benefit themAs I continue to save money, I hope to begin earning additional income by serving more experienced investors.

For my medium term rentals, I don't require an application because I get mostly traveling medical professionals and digital nomads who are screened through the booking platform (hello landing).

I personally don't like using furnished finders accessory systems as they have big holes in them, but one thing I have learned is they are a travel medical professional you can ask to see their contract.

@Steve Milford Are you saying you worked real estate while also working your w2 job or that you are dual licensed and split your time equally for each skill?

I have $50k in the bank after selling my first renovation/flip (took 30 months to sell, but made some good rent in the mean time).Property 1 is class D with 16 units (all efficiencies) located in old downtown, near the hospital and in the medical center of the town.

It seems your non-PM friend is probably not very skilled at these aspects.Every time you have a vacancy due to poor tenant screening and placement, it costs you a lot of money, in lost rents, make ready, marketing, etc.

@Dusty CorningThe service that I use doesn't provide a credit score.When I run the reports, I usually see late medical bills, student loans, parking tickets, etc, which I am okay with.

@David Krulac.I'm not a fan of through the wall AC that are large window units. first of all the big hunkers can vibrate the wall especially when turning off or on..Secondly when they fail and ultimately they will fail, you can't get another unit to fit the hole exactly and need to reduce or expand the hole through the wall.And thirdly they're not usually tightly sealed in the winter.1: I have not had that problem with this home2: If and when the unit fails it is simple for someone with carpentry trim skills to find another unit the same size or smaller, then shim it (smaller if needed) and cut some new trim.