This issue is equally on your for not asking questions, as it is on them for not being clear enough when soliciting you as a customer.As far as your complaint that that it sat empty for months, its impossible for us to know what they did or did not do that could have or would have helped, but winter is usually a tougher time of year to find a tenant.

Any issue that makes it impossible to live reasonably normally or is likely to cost more the longer it continues.

As a novice/prospective investor, that sounds like an impossible task.How did you guys/gals network to build your teams when you were in my shoes?

It will be very hard to invest with only $4k to start, but it's not impossible.

Without a name skip tracing would be difficult not impossible.  

It's impossible to give meaningful guidance without knowing more. 

Although I am sure its not impossible, Evans is going to be a harder area to find a property in that will cash flow.

Though getting a 2 fam in these areas in the low/mid 600s is not easy, its not impossible, and the cash flows there would certainly be a lot better.

Without that it is going to be extremely difficult or near impossible

Trying to get someone on the phone is next to impossible!