If there is landscaping that you can add where, once established while you live there, requires very little maintenance and water, then do that.

We have a real estate meet up in Colorado Springs that will be great for meeting other investors and learning more about real estate.

I believe the rental market is more friendly to the houseowners between spring to summer time for a good ISD area. 

Tenants pay for gas and electric, owner pays for water.

I didn't get a lot of water and it was all manageable by the tenants, but given this happened I want to try to understand the reason and where to look (e.g., do I need to install a new/ better sump pump). 

And very important: most of the fresh water in the world.Also, MN has become landlord-unfriendly.

For example where water is included in the rent. 2.

You need to have enough money, probably in the $100-150k, amount to put the property under contract, and do the feasibility study on the property, Phase 1 Environmental, Property Drawings for roads, water sewer, and utilities, and have a completed budget so you know what your costs are.At that point you can go out and attract investors, I don't thing that developing raw land is necessarily cheaper than buying discounted finished lots. 

Everything seemed to be going well and then... the water main burst at the property. 

On the other hand, at the auction Wayne County held back in the Spring, about half the auction was the  listings for Sterling Township inside Pocono Springs.