@Presley Becker visit city Building & Assessing Departments to see if any open permits or tickets, or recent history.What are city requirements regarding inspections and registrations?

In theory you should come out ahead in the long run if you use it wisely.

A "heads up" so to say.  

RE is such a local game so knowing the streets and the neighborhoods are very important for your years ahead whether it is to Buy and Hold or to Flip. 

Get pre-approved for a mortgage, conduct site visits, use analytics tools, network with investment groups, monitor foreclosure listings, and look for areas with long-term growth potential.

I want to start building relationships with the agents and visit some of them to pick their brains, figuratively, of course. 

If that is the case, why not ask them how they avoid a conflict of interest because as a client you expect them to show you places that are a good rental; however, if they are also looking to buy those places then you don't want to work with them as they will put their interest ahead of yours (the client).

Great investment getting ahead of the college housing expenses and putting the equivalent rent money to work..If the property is generating income it can be classified as a 'second home.'

I'm investing OOS so I don't know what it smelled like but my realtor told me downstairs tenant is definitely a smoker so I'm sure he smelled it while visiting the upstairs unit.

If looking at OOS, are there places you visit a lot or have family and friends?