@Michael Bennett Wow, welcome to the fun of real estate investing!
You have some great feedback from the others on this post, so I'd echo what they've said.
I would also reinforce that the due diligence is also on the properties you are purchasing. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get a second opinion, either from a GC you trust, or from a home inspector.
Regarding the C/D areas, I've bought several in North Tulsa and sometimes I've hated them, but mostly I've loved them. I would suggest getting a property manager after you've had some experience yourself. Turning these over to a good property manager has helped me place better tenants. I am personally a fan of the North Tulsa rental market. I screen tenants there just as I would in an A+ market. The cash flow is difficult to beat and yes, it comes with headaches, but in the end I believe has been worth it for us. Keep an eye on your houses, get in there and replace filters every couple months so you can see the inside of the house, etc.
As a way to mitigate risk, why not just buy ONE house from your mentor and then if that goes well, purchase another in a year?
Some surprises I've had in this area:
- Sheriff kicked door down in one house b/c they had a warrant from a previous tenant
- Found a gun in one house (ended up being a BB gun but looked like a 357 revolver)
- Had tenants leave the house, left all their stuff, and never heard from them again, after living there for only a few months
- Had a water leak in a ceiling that flooded my garage and damaged ceiling in dining area
- On the positive side, have provide safe, affordable, clean housing for some great people. In one case I've helped a family purchase their first home ever, as they are paying a note off with me over the course of 10 years. That's very rewarding.
Good luck to you Michael!