You oversee things with a watchful eye instead.  

Ask realtors to run a CMA (Comparable Market Analysis) on a property you are interested in offering on and see how it looks (with a skeptical eye since they have a vested interest), most will do this for free if you're going to put your offer in through them.This is why I suggest getting out there, looking at a lot of homes, put in a lot of offers, and generally pay attention to what sells and for what price ... become a student of the market.

So the day has finally arrived, and I get to take one step closer to owning my first property.My loan has just been approved and I have a 13% deposit for the apartment I have my eyes on.Tomorrow I am meeting with my realtor to put together an offer to purchase, and would love any advice you have with regards to this step? 

You're in the same boat as the wholesaler in the publics eyes.

Plus, it's really easy to keep an eye on.

I would almost rather poke my eyes out than have to go through an SBA loan, but is this a candidate for that type of loan?

On top of that a thief is just as likely to take the camera with them if they notice it.I would inform local law enforcement and ask for a few extra night time patrols, talk to the neighbors and ask them to keep an eye on the place and call if they see anyone suspicious, and possibly consider staying at the reno 1-2 time per week.

I've been keeping an eye on the properties that become available as I'd like to purchase my second property soon.

I currently reside in NYC and for some time I've had my eyes set on Albany, NY because I'm some what familiar with the area but I still would like to weigh my options  before settling on a location.Any recommendations for areas not to far from NYC (2-3 hours) that could be great for a first time investor?

I’ve been eyeing it for quite some time and I finally pulled the title on it.