Check the contract.

To mitigate risks, I strongly encourage getting a home inspection to fully understand what you're buying.If the property checks out, this area can be a great addition to your portfolio.

A friend advised me to check reviews online and look for someone local with experience in single-family homes.

When analyzing potential investment opportunities, one thing you can't afford to overlook is projecting those sweet returns.

would be amazing I will definitely check, thank you for the perspectives! 

I go in---check out the house, study the area, etc., and rarely present an offer.

They're spending tax-payer money, so they'll cut a check without batting an eye.Document condition before and after with photos, inspect regularly, and you should be fine.

I keep thinking about tools that can help me reduce risk by catching errors or red flags in seller disclosures and inspection docs, but that's likely because I've had a bad experiences with both.A simple and obvious example is a seller checking "No" for pests section, such as Scorpions and Snakes in Arizona when the property is in the desert, so obviously, there will be snakes and scorpions. 

Periodically checking the realtor.com and zillow "sold" listings in your areas of interest will keep you generally informed on what properties are actually selling for.Feel free to reach out with any questions during your research phase, happy to share some additional stats/info.

You should check out Larry Andelsman of Andelsman Law in NYC.