First Property Do's and Don'ts

[Tanner Stenquist]

Hey everyone!

My name is Tanner and I am 23 and a current full-time college student studying Accounting. I have been listening to bigger pockets podcasts for a little now and I have decided to try and get my first property. I am located in Idaho, and I have found two properties (one is a 2 bedroom/1.5 bath townhome ($135,000) and one is a 2 bedroom/1 bathroom single-family unit ($120,000)).

I am planning on living in it for the next two years with my fiancee/future wife while I finish my Master's in accounting/MBA and she finishes her Bachelors in Nursing. Once we graduate we are planning on moving to the Washington DC area, to start our careers and we would like to keep this property and rent it out.

I am BRAND NEW at this and I was wondering what are some do's and don'ts of the whole process. I am in the middle of reading the ultimate beginners guide and I am actually going to look at the two properties tonight.

Any pointers, tips, etc. would be fantastic.

Thanks!