I have been in property management for 20 years, almost 3 years ago I moved to Birmingham AL to start my investment journey.

I run Blaze Real Estate a property management company in Amarillo.

Instead of paying down someone else’s mortgage, you’re setting yourself up for bigger and better deals down the road.Your first deal is going to depend on a lot of factors—how important is location?

Having local family gave me a built-in support system, market familiarity, and the confidence to manage a property from a distance if needed.

Long term rentals are easier to manage and come with less risk.

@Rory DarcyRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

I manage around 400 rentals with 14 years of experience and have never been sued once.

Hey Jamie, I am actually a property manager located in Jacksonville, FL and work with several investors in the area.

Managing a rental property can be challenging, especially if it’s your first experience.

First, Are you licensed and insured to manage other people's properties?