Maintaining the portfolio you inherited (visiting these properties and learning why they've lost value and how you can improve them will teach you so much more than just reading a book.

How do you control your costs?

I relocated from Virginia to New Jersey for work,... to cut a long story short, when Covid hit the company I worked for closed my branch and I lost my job in the process.

@Matthew Swearingen I'm lost here...how exactly are you figuring your desired return to determine that you can only get 1-1.5% return? 

Personally, I don't like to put my money into something I can't control - yes the stock market has been great, even during COVID, but I would rather put my money into something I can manage (even if not 100% due to moratoriums and zoning risks) versus a stock that I have no control over and is basically a legalized form of gambling. 

If you don't know exactly how to place that capital and make up for the lost returns + more, then don't do it.

I was able to get it rented out to a family that had lost part of their house to a fire and were going to be displaced for 6+ months, so they're currently there until June with their insurance paying the rent of $1200!

I hear you but even assuming that’s true and it stays vacant for a while what have you lost?

My plan is to move out shortly and start generating cash flow but am concerned what heating costs will be like with the renters able to control the thermostat and not being as diligent about keeping windows and doors closed.

I have a 401k (Roth) that I would LOVE to get into my IRA (Roth) where I would have more control and options for real estate investing, so I will definitely look into that!