If you're just starting out, I recommend getting comfortable speaking with sellers over the phone.

These areas offer a good balance between proximity to downtown and a more suburban feel, often with newer properties and stronger rental markets.At Neu Real Estate Group, we specialize in new build duplexes designed specifically for investors like you.

And of course make sure the property is comfortable and clean.As for cleaning & maintenance, I found few companies who can take care of that.

It's not a risk I am comfortable with but some people are. 

We in the BP community can help you figure out the financial choices if you choose to share your numbers but at the end of the day there's also an emotional cost to be considered with either choice and you have to decide that for yourself.You're welcome to respond here or message if you have any questions, I'm happy to help you take a look at numbers if you feel comfortable to help you break down your options of keeping vs selling so that you can make an informed decision

In the majority of fraud or Ponzi Scheme cases the common theme seems to be that the money is mostly gone, and whatever is left runs out before a large portion of the victims are made whole.Sounds like the majority are first position mortgage holders.. this is super simple find an attorney that specializes in mortgage foreclosures and file. there is a federal law that went in post GFC that requires lenders to give a 90 day notice before they can file and I think it pertains to any loans on any 1 to 4 unit properties  the assets that Dodd Frank was designed to regulate. once the 90 days is up you file your foreclosure  in OHIO its a mortgage state so it cost more  money than a Deed Of Trust with power of sale state.  

I was out of my comfort zone at the time but I didn't over-leverage myself or capital.

It will also be difficult to find a licensed contractor who will feel comfortable signing off on the work if they didn't do the work themselves. 

@Lucas Gomez investors in California and Washington face the same question.You'd need to analyze the trends and get comfortable with the risks, but it's done all the time.

We don't have kids yet, so we knew this would be the most comfortable/convenient time in our life to house hack.