Here are a few to watch out for:Property Condition: Most distressed properties need extensive repairs or renovations, which add to your initial investment.Competitive Market: With Phoenix's popularity among investors, competition for the best deals can be intense.Complex Deals: Foreclosures, auctions, or short sales are much more complicated compared to regular real estate transactions and usually require specialized knowledge.Tips to Successfully Navigate the MarketDo Your Research: Understand the local market conditions, including neighborhood trends, property values, and potential rental income.Build a Strong Network: Work with professionals who specialize in distressed properties-such as brokers, contractors, and legal experts-to make the best decisions.Assess Costs Carefully: Factor in the cost of repairs, holding costs, and any potential financing issues when evaluating a property’s profitability.Be Patient: Finding the right distressed property takes time.

Taxes, costs, eviction complexity, etc are going to be a much bigger factor in your success than anything else.

Keep in mind the potential for higher renovation costs due to older properties and the local landlord-tenant laws.Good luck! 

The cost of moving is around $1,000.

There were a lot of costs that we didn't expect like the plumbing had to be completely redone.

if there is appreciation, but you wouldn’t sell your current home tax free and buy a neighboring home to rent out, (There by raising your cost basis for additional depreciation and lower capital gains tax.) then it probably doesn’t make a good rental property. . 

A deal that’s “close” but not quite right can still cost you big.

Given that the property was worth $390K in its current condition, I saw an opportunity to make the numbers work while keeping my upfront costs low.Instead of increasing my cash offer, I negotiated a $25K down payment with the seller carrying the balance for two years through owner financing.

Do you work with any specialty tax firms to help us small business owners get access to R&D tax credits, cost segregation and other specialty tax credits?

Assuming you sold the home at the end of 5 yearsYour NET ROI would be:0% appreciation: 10.93%1% appreciation: 12.13%2% appreciation: 13.33%3% appreciation: 14.53%This ROI calculation takes into account taxes, insurance, selling costs, repairs (calculated at $3500) through out the lease.