Hi Vivien, welcome to the community!

New blood in the forum is always exciting.. what's your top strategy for finding hidden deals?

The usual way, but not the right way, to try to buy a rental is by finding a property on the MLS, where agents congregate, make an offer and then try to get financing to buy the property.

Short version: You are off the hook if you paid the contractor electronically.

That is on one of the largest arterial streets in the city, massive traffic count.

Renting it out before that could violate the loan agreement unless the lender grants an exception (e.g., job relocation).

We love our pets but at the end of the day pets are a luxury.

That makes the investing and property management a LOT easier.  

If you consider Pittsburgh in the future I'm happy to talk about the market and help you get set up. 

I would love to make a move before the end of the year and so I keep trying to decide which of the following is best for me:1) Buy 1 more expensive CA property near here, and thus a better tenant (less likely to cause issues), but lose a little bit of money every month due to the current numbers, while hoping for future appreciation?