I pick close-in burbs with good access to public transportation.  

Did you check public records to see if the seller even owns the property outright (if possible in your area)?

You just got a college education in investing and I doubt you'll ever again place trust in others who could clearly care less about your money.

My father even brought me along to ask for private money lending at peoples homes. 005 bought my first home in Louisiana, turned into a rental and moved to Fort Worth Texas and bought my first brand new duplex in 2008.Educated myself and bought real estate investment courses and settled on Armando Montelongo‘s flip this house completed that course and bought my first 2 fix and flip in 2009 sold one in 2009I did not farewell during the housing market crash, simultaneously lost my job due to the Event Horizon oilfield disaster.My lovely wife and I now purchase real estate in San Jose Del Cabo Mexico with our cash and build with our money as well.

I recall appraisers check the public records before doing an actual walkthrough.

Even from the good ones, the quality of their answer is dependent on the quality of your question (so educate yourself to ask the right questions in the right form...which is what I think @Max Bellino is trying to do here).I don't know if Max can benefit from my notes and diagrams, or if they apply to his situation and plans, but since you mentioned them, here they are - just be advised this is from a lot of sleeping at Holiday Inn Express many years ago so take them with a big grain of salt and don't construe them as legal or tax advice:If you are new to REI you should be primarily concerned with finding good deals and growing your business first.

YNAB also offers a variety of educational resources like online workshops, videos, articles, and a forum to increase your financial knowledge.Why investors should use it: YNAB can be used by real estate investors to track their expenses—such as mortgage payments, maintenance costs, insurance, property taxes, and other things—to keep a close watch on their cash flow.

The real estate company offers syndications and syndication education services.

Here are the ways you can qualify for material participation per IRS publication 925: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p925#en_US_2023_publink1000...Material participation tests.You materially participated in a trade or business activity for a tax year if you satisfy any of the following tests.1.

Has anyone worked with a public adjuster on Long Island (Nassau County or Suffolk County) or in the New York City area to help with an insurance claim?