If you SLOWLY add variables after you have solved the same problem a couple times it gets easier with less risk.I sadly had a very hard time with FOCUS and switched things up on nearly every project, creating new challenges.  

Other brands substituted and were the same.

My wife and I used to do flips in this area, and I have a couple listings along with long term rentals I manage in the area..For the co-host, they typically do not handle permitting and other items like that (this can be agreed upon between you and the co-host.

We have been investing in the Pittsburgh market for the past couple of years and have 2 duplexes and are closing on a triplex in about a month.

I've got a couple of soft factor questions I'm not sure how to analyze and would love to speak to a few of you more experienced types!

Normally when people ask about something like this, they are looking for a quick way to survey markets, but that's not a great idea if you guys are brand new.

When I was younger I went from not having a FICO score because I paid for everything cash to an 800+ score in 6 months by having a couple family members and my girlfriend add me as an authorized user to their credit cards which they'd always paid on time and paid off every month.

I'm ASSUMING (a bad idea, I know) that they were a married couple and had joint ownership. 

I highly recommend you travel to the market yourself and spend a couple days driving around, looking at various properties, if you are going to be buying anywhere.  

We had a couple of bigger ones that we wrapped up over the summer and they sat for awhile.