This towns numbers aren't great on AirDNA at all but I noticed a bunch of the listings weren't "professional" looking.

I also view the trades as easy but I paid my way through my bachelors via the trades and started in the trades at a noticeably younger age than you are.  

I've just noticed a lot of posters that appear to be bots or spammers.

Maybe I can notice something and get you some feedback. 

I googled and noticed it could be a requirement? 

Troy definitely has cheaper entry points, but I noticed a big difference depending on which side of the city you’re in—some streets work great, others can turn into management headaches fast.Albany felt a bit more predictable to me, especially around areas tied to state jobs, hospitals, and colleges.

However, if you've already started your preliminary search, you've probably noticed that the quality of neighborhoods can vary a bit within each of those areas. 

Essentially, this investment appears to double the initial capital over five years.However, I’ve been noticing an increasing number of these properties being listed for sale.

All it takes is one tenant who knows their rights or calls Legal Aid.When this might be legal (very narrow scenarios)There are only a few situations where taking possession without eviction court is defensible:Clear abandonment, documented thoroughlyNo belongingsUtilities offWritten surrenderKeys returnedSquatters with no tenancy established, and even this is increasingly contestedPost-eviction lockout, after a sheriff executes a writWhat you described does not fit these categories if there is a valid lease.Why people still talk about itThis “service” persists because:It sometimes works when tenants are unsophisticatedTenants don’t always fight backEnforcement is complaint-drivenBut when it fails, it fails badly.This is survivorship bias, not legality.The correct play in CaliforniaIf the tenant has a lease:Serve proper notice (pay or quit, cure or quit, etc.)File unlawful detainerLet the sheriff handle possessionIf timing or cash flow is the issue:Cash-for-keys, properly documented, is far saferVoluntary surrender agreements work if done correctlyMediation often resolves faster than courtThis is not a gray area for landlords.It’s only gray for people willing to gamble on tenants not fighting back.If someone is offering this as a “service,” they are shifting all legal risk to you, not them.

This will allow people to pay on time, get a notice when rent is due and if it is late.