You can also find real estate investing groups through meetup.com, Facebook, or a Google search.

Interesting, I am an active investor, we also have a team and ask OOS clients almost the opposite: we require them to come to Milwaukee and check out some neighborhoods and houses together in order to make sure we are on the same page.

After reviewing your application, we’ve determined that, unfortunately, we are unable to move forward with your application at this time, as it does not meet our established criteria for income and (other established criteria) We appreciate the time you took to apply and wish you the best of luck in your continued search for a home. 

They just don’t keep up with the growth appreciation rates of other properties in the same neighborhood or even the same building.

Can try to reposition to Class B, but neighborhood may impede these efforts.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620 (approaching 22% probability of default), many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years.

If the answer to the last question is yes, I think it'll be a hard choice.I see a reasonable appreciation rate for underwriting at about 6% based on neighborhood scout, so nominally I think you'll make 10-11% if you had paid cash which means I think you'll do quite well holding on (20% returns or so). 

I wouldn’t move into the house because I currently own in a better neighborhood close by.Have they made it easier to get heloc’s for investment properties.

In a city like Philly, you will face many challenges - you need to learn the market and know the neighborhood and the block and make sure all of your numbers are within reason, you need very reliable contractors, you need a to understand the permit process, you need to be familiar with market expectations. 

Go search the topic "Lifestyle Asset University" here on Bigger Pockets and you will see a longer thread with a lot of opinions (most are not members) but still worth a read as there are a half a dozen paid members from our group who have commented on that thread.We were formerly called Lifestyle Asset University, but I didn't realize that you couldn't use the word University in your company name here in Utah so we changed our name to Vodyssey. 

Also, neighborhoods matter.