Therefore, your risk is higher and cash flow is a gamble. 

Just want to think about characteristics/qualities/etc. that make a good contractor/realtor/etc. 

I can speculate (gamble) there.Swanny

Otherwise it's gambling.

I think the out of town investor just gambled on it and won, it was a good buy.

MOST of my REI decisions (decisions to buy or sell a property, for instance) are governed by specific characteristics of the property itself.

Search for a good property to house hackA property that is a viable candidate for house hacking may have characteristics that are slightly different than a home that the owner will live in year after year.

Those are hypothetical scenarios, but you get the idea.A final layer to it (if you want to attempt it) is getting a great deal on the particular property -- that is, purchasing the property below its potential value given its location and characteristics.

More the principle  Glad you are taking this route rather than gambling with an HOA.

currently workin on gettin a private lender for the next deal Steven, you are the 2nd BP member I know of that got started with a gambling win.