Many new investors get excited by high cash on cash returns in the midwest and buy rough properties in D areas and they get smoked by property managers, tenants, vacancy, capital expenses, repairs, turnover costs, etc. 

Repairs after tenants move out also are significantly higher. 

Rents were well below market and substantial repairs were needed.

I spent a year in Fort Sill, and I don't think I could name one redeeming quality about Lawton other than houses are cheap.

@Rochelle GerberHere are some of the downsides of putting real estate into an IRA or 401k.No tax deductions: You can’t claim deductions for property taxes, mortgage interest, depreciation, repairs, improvements and other property-related expenses.Property expenses: All expenses, repairs, and maintenance costs must be paid with IRA or 401k funds, and you must pay others to do repairs and manage the property.

I look at debt and quality of tenant when I am searching for my clients.

Strategy is long term hold.Question - Apart from getting inspections done by a quality inspections company, what other items do I need to verify or consider as part of due diligence, before closing or in order to decide Go-No-Go?

For example, do you have a quality real estate agent that knows that market well?

Giving the recurring issues with labor quality and scarcity, would you say automation tools like construction 3d printing or other tech are worth exploring?

@Grace Hartman Most of the time sellers offer credits instead of fixing repairs.