Had we seen one of them, we would have selected another tenant and avoided a disaster where he is not paying and we are going through appeals and eviction.Even the income reported by Zillow turns out they report what the tenant submitting the application provides - not a value that Zillow verifies. 

I don't think there are any "tools" out there to help you select a market.

Yes, the math is based on an oversimplified flat tax rate (I think I used 40% based on the effective tax rate (state and federal) we paid last year.As for markets, we are still using this information to try and narrow it down.  

I'm trying to figure out the most efficient yet cost-effective way to compile data.

In some cases, these wholesalers effectively act as informal acquisition partners.Whether a separate, dedicated acquisition partner makes sense really comes down to cost-efficiency.

We have a large selection of extra blankets.

This data confirms a broader shift:Pandemic migration has fully cooled.Supply growth in Sun Belt markets is outrunning demand.𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞: rent concessions, increased marketing, or selective disposition.𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: motivated sellers, flexible terms, and creative deal structures.If you’re new to real estate and have been watching and waiting, this is one of the best opportunities to learn how creative investing actually works.

Tenant selection is the most time consuming.

Instead, a few practical paths to consider: look at portfolio lenders or local banks/credit unions that will cross-collateralize or offer better pricing once you bring them multiple clean duplexes; selectively refinance older low-rate properties to recycle some equity while keeping DSCR conservative; or bring in limited capital partners for a few deals so you can keep 20% down and scale faster without blowing up returns.

By asking these questions, you can gauge the professionalism and reliability of a property manager, ensuring that you choose someone who will effectively manage your investment.Thank you for outlining these points — this is genuinely helpful.