Also, how do people evaluate these properties to ensure that they are making a profitable investment.

These factors attribute Renters can be assured that the property will find a suitable tenant willing to rent it, this will ensure constant cash flow from the invested property.High Return on InvestmentsProperty investments are the safest way to get a good return on capital and with affordable property, you can resell the property to get your money back with profit.

If you're going for appreciation, how can you best ensure it's actually going to happen?

@Jeremy Willis you need to define your destination first, then map your route to reach it.Let's say you want to earn $10,000 a month to ensure you are financially free forever.

@Victoria S.In terms of opening SDIRA or solo 401k, I'd solo401k has more advantages, but you have to ensure you qualify to open one up.As for the benefits, it allows you to diversify your retirement portfolio out of Wall Street into alternative assets. 

I'm really looking to building and seeing how that turns out but I have to keep cost in mind to ensure I'm not at a negative cash flow.

What do you do to ensure that the tenant is responsible for security deposit disputes since that is the largest reason for owner lawsuitsHow familiar are you with the newly changed laws that can affect you the owner if they are not used correctly?.

For the effort and adminstrative burden of ensuring everything matches...I'd need a significant savings.

In this case, I'm left with $10k of my own money stuck in the deal.Furthermore, they're saying they ideally want to see an investor own the property for 2 years to ensure cash flow.  

@Uri Foox Id run the projected rents by a couple of property managers to see their thoughts, just to ensure things!