Study the market.

Short term rental with cost seg study/ accelerated depreciation to offset W2 income.

The process usually goes like this:Rental Listing -> Landlord and Prospective Tenant fill out and submit RTA -> Voucher office performs Affordability Study -> Landlord approves estimated rent amount -> Property Inspection -> Approval of Property by Voucher Office -> Lease & Move-InThe section 8 process in/around Baltimore and Baltimore County does take a long time these days.

Below are some key metrics and the proforma I have compiled from a feasibility study and an STR report.

It was a ridiculous amount of time and really had no basis in factual studies.

The most important rule is to get to know the sub-market you're buying in and the property type and study what they are running on.

I am not stating this was the case in all markets, but people who think cash flow is guaranteed need to study their RE history.  

This would be my first major investment, so I do not have much investing experience, but I have done a lot of studying on the matter.

They don't provide tax documents on time, which cause significant headaches. they don't provide proof of cost mitigation studies unless you threaten to sue.I am a seasoned investor and I got duped in their flowery talk.

@Yu Xiao, using that property as a short term rental during the time you own it will open up some additional tax saving potential as will doing a cost segregation study to take advantage of some accelerated depreciation.