Quote from @Andrew Rodriguez: I will be speaking to a local one tomorrow morning and then go from there.  

Find a proven strategy and focus on that.

I make it back a few times a year to Rochester as I still have family there.

It seems to me that your favorite title company would be the best resource for solving a lot of your closing processes. 

This will increase the return above what can be obtained on a passive investment.The flipside of having the power to control everything is that it can be alot of work (and a full-time job if a person is putting in sweat equity).

Quote from @Vincent Cavalieri: Hi all,In the last 6 months, my partner and I have taken a big interest in Real Estate and the benefits attributed.

A lot of seasoned investors there that will help you through the inevitable challenges.

Were you a tenant in a homeroom property?

If you're willing and able, I do recommend the "house hacking" strategy which is just a fancy name for buying a rental property and living in one of the units, because you'll get very favorable financing - an owner-occupied fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.I'd also say, analyze that property as if you won't live there and it's a pure rental, and make sure the property is still cash flow positive if there's a tenant in your unit because then you'll know if it's actually a good investment.And when you analyze it, include payment of a property manager in your #s because if you don't, and doing so would make it go cash flow negative, then you've just bought yourself a job because you literally can't step away from managing it without losing money.

I had an issue in a duplex once with a tough renter.