If you talked to attorneys, why aren't you hiring them and following their advice? 

Leaving the area for the sake of real estate investing isn't in the cards for us.

Columbus has an active following on this website so you are in the right place

Attitude and professionalism are paramount; product knowledge next, and then there's your contact/follow-up systems.Put that together, price-test against the market, and you'll have a sustainable, constantly expanding, and very profitable venture.Good luck! 

One last follow-up question.On one of the IRS forms, I found the language pasted below.

I also heard Brett Immel was still doing business in Iowa, though I read an article that says he has been busted for lying during a bankruptcy hearing and may go to prison for 5 years.Would it make sense to contact the S.E.C.?

How far away from the property will you be?

Account Closed You can do automated lead generation in several ways, depending on whether you're looking for seller leads, buyer leads or private lender leads.Seller Leads: (1) Lead Swiper (online lead search with dozens of targeted searches), (2) Instant Leads -- direct access to listed properties nationwide with a click (3) OfferBot, automated offer making software (I use this every day) (4) Direct Mail Connect (upload your own list or use lists out of Freedomsoft) -- my team manages a ton of direct mail in my real estate business using this, (5) SMS lead generation (I use this every day)...and that's just scratching the surface.Buyer Leads: (1) Nationwide Cash Buyer database (millions of buyer records at the click of a mouse) -- including buyer name, address and all property addresses they've bought including closing dates and prices paid

It can depend on the property, but owner paying the bills seems rare these days. 

That time I was looking at getting 201 S Washington (a 5 unit rental) and S Washington wasn't designated as STR and Gettysburg City said that I had to go thru the process of applying for zoning licence which is followed by a hearing with the neighbors as the jury who would hand me the verdict - yes/no.I like analyzing markets and observing them for a number of months/years.