So the best first steps you can take is to educate yourself -- you need to know how to invest smartly AND how to be a landlord.

Home to The Ohio State University with nearly 60,000 students, 5 Fortune 500 companies, over +25% population change since 2000, and the 2016 smart city challenge award winner (https://www.columbus.gov/smartcity/).

Andy, you’re being smart to put the safety of your family first.

No money down options just aren't smart for beginners.

Storage is a very smart play and you do need to know the intricacies to do well and where to target, but most of the guys who are actually good at it you can get all the info from just watching their YouTube of Instagram Stories and then slowly reaching out.

Check out companies like Prypco for those opportunities.Finding a mentor is also a smart move!

If investors are not smart enough to figure this all out on their own then that's their own fault.

Smart buyers understand the value of a Buyer's agent and it certainly is not just to open doors.  95% of my clients are out of state investors purchasing in a market that they do not know nor live in, they count on me to walk the property, access repairs, provide comps and short term rental numbers, arrange and be present for inspections, as well as my ability to assist them getting their short term rental set up for them long distance.  

This could also be a smart short-term rental strategy since golf courses are typically situated in well-established neighborhoods with easy access to other amenities.

So if you buy smart and have a good cash flowing property this could help you.It is more difficult in this environment to find great properties at great prices at interst rates that work well.I would also caution everyone to not put all their eggs in the STR basket.