I'm completely new to this, so please take what I say with a grain of salt.

A lot of foreign investors like Chicago, for the following reasons:+ both cash flow and appreciation, lots of direct international flights, an affordable "world city"- the state of Illinois is in debt, taxes are high, building boom could dent cash flow + appreciationI can also recommend Salt Lake City:+ solid universities, great vacation rental market, great potential for growth, not as crazy as Denver,- weak cash flow, competitive RE market

Philadelphia,Tampa, Houston, and Salt Lake are good surprises from my perspective.

I'd still have to trim and take care of what little landscaping there is, so I might just take care of the lawn anyways since I will be in the area for my other properties.This won't be an issue for you, but I have a tenant take care of the snow at one place with reduced rent for the winter months, I provide the shovels and salt.  

700 is hard to get in Salt Lake, so if you're going there I'd plan for more.

So I am just starting out and I have been looking in the Salt Lake area for good deals.

Hello @Dyryl BurnettI have one idea that you can consider with a grain of salt.

Sorry, can't resist, a wholesale friendly Realtor in Salt Lake?

I would just take it with a grain of salt and pay or lose the $500.00.

I always use the 50% expense rule ( it's just a rule so take it with a grain of salt ) but I have 23k after using that rule as net income.