Keep it simple and learn the basics (tons of resources here).3.

There's nothing wrong with "going big," so please don't let me discourage you, but- I find that mindset keeps people from taking reasonable, simple steps towards financial freedom because they can't grow as quickly as they think they should. 

Listen conversations and ask simple questions like, "what do you like and dislike about your neighborhood".  

I’m glad to be here, and I’m looking forward to learning from others while sharing what I’m seeing locally.Here are a few observations from my side:In Phoenix, the model works best where floor plans allow for simple bedroom conversions, tenant demand is strong, and zoning is not a big obstacleRents in this space have stayed solid even while the luxury rental market has softenedNationally, PadSplit recently crossed 25,000 units in 25 cities and secured $40M in Series B funding, which shows how much demand exists for workforce housingFor those of you in other markets, are you noticing similar trends with shared housing or workforce housing?

People think it's simple, and the contracting is pretty simple, that's the easy part, but when things get hairy and liability comes around, that's when a good agent can be very valuable. 

If you never plan on having many properties, then a simple spreadsheet will suffice (KISS principle) Happy Investing!

No fees or middleman, and the buying/redemption/reinvestment process is simple and intuitive.

Hey Robert, I would like to recommend something that I have found helpful.Very simple- go to a mortgage calculator online (a free one that does not require you to input any information about yourself)- take the amount of $100,000 as your purchase price, and play with the variables- hold everything constant, but vary your down payment amount (5%, 10%, 20%, etc) and see what that does to the mortgage amount- then hold everything constant and do the same for interest rate (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, etc)By doing this on a simple amount of $100,000, you can begin to see the magnitude of changes to down payment and interest rateDepending on the situation, this may end up surprising you.

We really like the simple interface that Rentec Direct has.Most of the services offer a free trial that you can get in and play with them and see how they fit your needs.

So it’s smart to have it in your files before you hand over the keys.One option is to keep using the online screening for convenience, but add your own rental application as well — even a simple one-page PDF — that collects the info you need (full legal name, SSN, DOB, emergency contacts, etc.).