I also own shares in REITS.  

As a licensed realtor, I have some buyer clients looking to buy a house in New York state.

It insures all types of risks but does do a nice job with rentals in many markets

But, for future reference, in Ohio there is a little used approach to always get your money back.

Hey @Keagan Scott, so I don't have any insight into Gary, IN but here is a blurb -"Those looking to rent out their properties for less than 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks) will have to get a permit, pay a one-time $150 fee, and have a city business license.

My partner and I are new to the game and we're jumping in in PCB - specifically Laguna beach. 

That is something you can not put in a spreadsheet, but is a very important consideration in real estate investing.

However, rates are not great right now so taking out the money necessary makes the monthly payback greater than what we could get in rent.  

Meanwhile, interest rates have seen a small shift—enough to prompt some buyers to lock in financing sooner rather than later.Buyer demand remains healthy, and with the spring buying season just around the corner, we could see even more activity in the coming weeks.

The information contained in this post is not to be relied upon.