Newbie from Pittsburgh, Pa

[Nick Michaels]

Hi everyone! My name is Nick and I am really just starting to read and learn about real estate investing. I am a financial independence "enthusiast" if you will and always interested in adding more semi-"passive" incomes streams to supplement my current investment portfolio (mainly index funds at the moment). I am currently reading "The Book On Rental Property Investing" by Brandon Turner. I came to be reading that book / be on this website by way of the two BP podcasts, which I found from ChooseFI and FIRE Drill podcasts respectively. 

Off the top of my head I am targeting 2019 to potentially purchase a single-family or small multi-family property using conventional financing (20% down) at first. Until that point, I am here to read / listen and learn.

I am likely looking to purchase in my area (Pittsburgh) and have some ideas about what neighborhoods specifically, but these are just instincts and purely anecdotal in any event, so I would love to engage in discussions about what areas around here would work for the buy and hold rental income strategy.

Thanks!

[Brian Hollingsworth]

"For rent neighborhoods" are a good place to start. Look on craigslist and Zillow and see what's renting in what areas. Another strategy would be to call property management companies and ask them what areas they have renters but no properties. Often times tenants refer other tenants to their prop management companies and they aren't able to find homes for them.