You have to be patient and willing to fix up places before renting them.Job growth is very strong, vacancies extremely low, incomming residents from other places, and the two urban cities are growing and popular with millennials. 

I've combed through county records this week, which was extremely tedious, but came up with just at 100 so far (approximately one out of every 7 or 8 I looked at has potential).

The last 3 apts I had.. all had tall ceilings and it would have been difficult (if not extremely ugly) to run the venting outside, thus we ran the recirculating.  

Scott Lepore I'm in the Austin market as well but I'm extremely new.

Hey Everyone,I need some of advice from the BiggerPockets community.Like many other California investors we are extremely lucky to have a property that has appreciated over the last few years.

I am usually never at home so i gotta type everything on the phone, otherwise i would more easily be able to get into more detail.now the amount we pay the manager is not very much at all, but that is ok because the manager gets a huge perk: they get to live in the manager's quarters which pretty much all motels in the united states have. the managers quarters is connected to the front office and consists of a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment with an adequate spacious kitchen and spacious living room. an older couple who is retired, about to collect social security checks possibly, and has a minimal and quiet social life is most desired for this position. they get to live rent-free and utilities-free, and i get a manager for minimal expense. its a win win situation and i often become good friends with them. most managers only stick around for 1-2 years, but some are willing to basically stay for decades even.the motel business is a seasonal business, but not an extreme one. typically around march-may, business slows down an observable amount, and after that it picks right back up to 90-100% occupancy on every night. several nights a year, we have to turn away guests at nighttime because we have no rooms left to sell.the budget motel is a peculiar business, but then again its really not. your average person might struggle to understand how this business requires a decent amount of hard work, yet is simultaneously one of the most laidback businesses you can get into.we remain super competitive, to the point where its not even competitive anymore for us. the reason why is because i have placed a 40 inch tv in every room, along with a full sized refrigerator and a real kitchenette. for $190 total per week and free housekeeping and wifi, who wouldnt want to stay there vs. renting at an apartment that requires all sorts of documentation and an application fee?

On the two extremes, Schwab, my preferred broker, has no idea how to handle IRA LLCs or alternatives in IRAs, which is why I stumbled across the Checkbook IRA world when getting ready for my next PE investment.

I get that she is 62 , likely has a pension and is just toughing it out for a few more year but moving 80 miles away is extreme.

@Christian DrakeI have a home improvement contractor's "license" for PA (we have a registration and insurance requirement, no license) and it's been extremely useful.

You can do it here but it is extremely competitive getting deals 60% to 70% below market value.