Here are the vitals:600k purchase with 20% downLow maintenance and tax abated for another 15 years (which made it look as a good investment)Rented out, Cash flow of $82/moBUTThe board has imposed a $400 special assessment for one year, then extended for another year, and now want to extend that fir another year (they want to build reserve funds as maintenance too low).

I would think that when responding to potential renters it would be vital to be a good communicator. 

It is vital that you deal with the security deposit EXACTLY as required in your state laws.

The most vital thing for you to be approved for an FHA loan is going to be your DTI (debt to income ratio) not necessarily your credit, as FHA is designed for people without the best credit.

It is vital to have a good understanding of the requirements of each kind of loan and how the various alternatives work before approaching a lender.

(In-other-words, that it will operate at a reduced vitality, than it has, in 2019-2020.)

I'm very new to the investor game, so my goal with the first purchase is:A place that my partner and I would want to live in for 1-3+ yearsCap Rate of 3-4% minimumCash flow as close to $100/a door as possibleHave cash leftover to (A) start the slush fund for this property, ~$5-10k and (B) less vital: start building the pot for Property #2 within the next 2 years Note: I am semi risk-averse, not looking to over leverage right out the gateI'm looking for this first purchase to be a base hit, not a home run, as @Brandon Turner says.Property 1:DuplexPurchase Price $275,000Rental Income: $1000/unit Location: North Side of town (Northern Barton Heights), up and coming.

As Scott mentioned, it is vitally important to run your own numbers -- what the seller tells you sometimes qualifies for a Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.I forget how many times BP lets you use the calculator before you have to become a "Pro" member, but even the first time is a valuable education.

Learning how to repair things is super vital, especially when you're first starting out.  

.- vital-importance-mentor https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- get-ready-to-invest https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- get-your-head-in-the-game https://royallegalsolutions.co...You might want to read and follow these threads:advice-to-your-20-year-old-self https://www.biggerpockets.com/...financial-advise-for-getting-started https://www.biggerpockets.com/...how-to-prepare-for-a-career-as-a-flipper https://www.biggerpockets.com/...new-to-wholesale-real-estate https://www.biggerpockets.com/...what-is-the-best-re-related-9-to-5-job https://www.biggerpockets.com/...Bonus for the weekend, my collection for starters (read the comments too, and then if you like the author, go check out what else they wrote):- stages-of-investing https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- newbies-learn-real-estate-investing https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- 5-ways-to-know-youre-not-ready-to-invest https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- ideal-vs-desperate-investor https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- how-much-to-offer-property https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- hazardous-attitudes-of-investors https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- 21-traits-scammy-real-estate-investment-guru https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- youre-not-cut-out-to-be-real-estate-investor https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- questions-new-investors-should-ask https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- real-estate-books-beginner-investors https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- what-separates-those-who-succeed-from-those-who-fail https://www.biggerpockets.com/...If that's not enough, ping me and I'll give you a whole collection of blogs and podcasts to follow.Bonus 2: 1) Read at least one hour per day every single day.2) Remember the quote by Jim Rohn "You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with."3) Check for toilet paper before sitting down.