Pretend your getting the hardest rain you have ever seen and imagine where the water is going.I would also keep an eye out for sewer lines and type of material.

BiggerPockets is an excellent platform for networking and establishing connections.

So by spending $42k I collected an additional $75k over 5 years, and then sold the furniture through a consignment store collecting $8k as my share.  

Short-term rentals of non-owner-occupied properties will also require a special use variance which is obtainable by starting with the completion of an application in the Zoning Department."

It wasn’t an easy path—in 2014, I even filed for bankruptcy while trying to launch a business.

You are clearly not thinking, especially as an out of state rookie. 

If you're willing and able, I do recommend the "house hacking" strategy which is just a fancy name for buying a rental property and living in one of the units, because you'll get very favorable financing - an owner-occupied fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.I'd also say, analyze that property as if you won't live there and it's a pure rental, and make sure the property is still cash flow positive if there's a tenant in your unit because then you'll know if it's actually a good investment.And when you analyze it, include payment of a property manager in your #s because if you don't, and doing so would make it go cash flow negative, then you've just bought yourself a job because you literally can't step away from managing it without losing money.

If it's an owner occupied loan, the underwriter will need to verify this is your primary residence.

Just curious, are you advertising these as for sale or was this an FYI? 

When an appraiser is adjusting a comp to match the subject property, he or she will use an adjustment based on the difference in square footage.