I will save it in my notes to refer and share with my partner.

They’ve built systems around transparency, reporting, consistent communication, and working with older properties, including Section 8.While I can’t directly plug specific Cleveland vendors without confirming they meet your criteria, here’s how you find the right ones:🔹 Investor-Friendly Agents:Ask for transaction history with out-of-state buyersRequire references from investors they’ve worked withLook for familiarity with rehab, comps, and niche financing (DSCR, portfolio lenders)🔹 Property Managers:Before you commit, vet them on:How they handle maintenance costs and approvalsWhether they provide online owner portals with financials and photosTheir marketing + leasing process (turnaround time matters)Experience specifically with Section 8/CMHASince Cleveland’s housing stock and submarkets vary tremendously block by block, having a local expert who specializes in investor due diligence.

Build your credibility stack now: brief 1‑page story, sample underwriting, references, and a weekly update email to your network.

The Deferred sales trust is an installment sale ( not to be confused with a Delaware statue trust or what Thomas is referring to above as a 30 year monetized installment sale). 

Any good CPA references for Arizona??

So, owners mistakenly think price is the only differentiator – and look for a PMC like they’d shop for groceries☹We encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others by reading posts here on BiggerPockets from owners that picked a PMC solely by price and regretted it.We recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Even if someone gives you a referral, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that just because a PMC met their expectations, they’ll meet your expectations.

If you can consistently acquire a solid property every couple of years, you’ll almost certainly wake up with a meaningful portfolio in 10–15 years.To your question: yes, a small multifamily with an owner-occupant strategy can absolutely make sense in your situation — even if it doesn’t look amazing on paper day one.For reference, I ran some rough numbers on a Providence triplex I saw recently:8 Andem St, Providence, RIAsking price: $525,000If you were able to purchase something similar using an FHA loan with 3.5% down, here’s what that might look like:Estimated PITI (including MIP): ~$3,680/monthAssumes ~5.5% rate (just a placeholder — local lenders can dial this in)I plugged in $2,500/year for insurance as a rough estimate (definitely confirm locally)Looking at current rentals, 2 bed / 1 bath units in that area appear to rent around ~$1,600/month.

In MA, it helps to be a little more structured than that.Here’s what I recommend focusing on:Income verification + pay stubs/bank statements (document everything)Rental history (prior landlord references + payment history)Debt-to-income / affordability (helps avoid issues mid-lease)Consistency across the application (missing info, mismatched dates, etc.)Biggest mistake I see: rushing screening to avoid vacancy… then paying for it later with nonpayment, damage, or constant drama.Always use consistent screening criteria for every applicant and follow Fair Housing guidelines.

If you need a referal I'm happy to provide.  

Just sent you a DM in reference to helping you build out your team.