Find a market you like with a good future (strong schools, job market, low crime).Learn how to analyze property for good cash flow.Get your finances in order with no debt, a good budget, a personal emergency fund, enough money for the down payment, and a reserve in case anything goes wrong with the rental in the first 6-12 months.Buy.Immediately start educating yourself on how to manage problems (application screening, late rent, unauthorized pets/people, etc.) and saving for the next investment.Here's a guide that describes what good cash flow looks like and how to analyze a property.https://www.biggerpockets.com/...

Don't keep student loans around like a pet, especially when they are that small.

Recently went in a rental property to replace air filters and discovered the tenants pets had damaged an approx 1' x 3' section of carpet.

They are their burglary system for their office (i.e home) thus making all expenses in relation to their pets tax deductible (vet visits, food, etc...).  

I have been with my wife for 30 years we met in high school.I was raised that a man is responsible financially for his house and home (which includes wife, kids, pets, bills everything). 

I have over 35 years of experience is the building trades, building and facilities Maintenance, and as a handyman.I need a place for me and my very well behaved, super friendly, kid and pet safe, 11 year old dog.

For example, if you wanted to now implement a no-pet policy, assuming the resident doesn't already have a pet, now would be the time to implement that.

Cat hoarding.I've seen this before, lost track of the number is right.All cats were surrender by her to homes as pets, with help of the local fire department volunteers catching them with heavy fireman gloves and crating them while she was off the premises--with her permission.The crates came from a no kill shelter, who also worked to re-home them after vet checkups and fixing.They ALL went to (good) homes as pets.It took an intervention type thing to get her to release the cats, but she knew she could not take care of that many, and they were not as well off as if they lived with families as ones, two or threes.From discovery to re-homing about 1 month. 

Think of all the things that could go wrong and see if the lease addresses them: unauthorized pets or tenants, early termination, security deposit, lease violations, late rent, eviction, lawn maintenance, parking, etc.5.

Leave a voicemail that tells them what your rental criteria is (income, credit, pets or no pets, etc.) and that you require a full credit/criminal on every adult at a cost of $XX per person.