Here's what is important to know: The SDIRA itself owns the property, and all income and expenses flow through that account, not your personal funds.

We only require a cleaning on move-out but we give our clients the option to require mid-stay cleans since that would be an additional expense for them. 

I'm just getting into running the numbers and the problem I'm running into is that I don't want to have any responsibilities during the day while I'm working my day job and the wages expense for caregiver staff is MASSIVE in my area (+$18/h).

Lock a tight buy box by submarket and vintage, underwrite to in-place income first, then model stabilized rents with conservative expenses and a true cap-ex reserve.

Here’s something I’ve noticed lately while running numbers on small multis (2–4 units) across the Triad:A lot of investors underestimate how strong the rent-to-price ratios still are here compared to other Southeast markets.Typical small multi deals I’ve been tracking:• Purchase price: $170K–$260K• Rents per door: $900–$1,200 depending on the neighborhood• PM costs: 8–10%• Taxes/insurance still relatively low• Most deals landing around 6.5%–8% cap with light value-addNothing crazy, but steady, predictable cash flow — especially for out-of-state investors who want an easier entry point than Charlotte or Raleigh.The biggest tip I’d give newer investors is:Run your numbers with OPPORTUNITY in mind, not perfection.Cash flow still exists here, but only if you look at realistic expenses and know what areas rent fastest.I’ve been checking out different pockets around Greensboro and High Point recently, and there are still opportunities.

Guess I never paid attention, I just know on some more expensive items I just figure to go in the store (i.e. new xmas tree this year was $600) so worth the few mins extra time driving versus having it delivered to my door to get the 10% discount, but I never calculated if it was actually 10% just paid once they rung it in with discount. 

If I had bought an expensive property and had to actually carry a real mortgage for a year and a half I would've been screwed.

Others focus on ADU builds or house hacking (like renting part of a primary home) since you can still deduct depreciation and expenses proportionally while living there.The reality is, in high-cost markets like this, appreciation and tax planning usually drive returns more than raw cash flow.

I'm in an expensive market, and know that I will likely have to look out of state to make cash flow as a beginner. 

Another strategy is to implement a detailed project timeline to ensure efficient use of labor, thereby minimizing delays and unexpected expenses.