Build your portfolio as your knowledge and wealth increase. 

I lived for free for a couple years, while collecting rent checks. 

I own the property free and clear and i use the equity as part of my business line of credit.

It sounds like the Title Co. was not aware that the tenant prepaid rent and just prorated the current rent for the month of closing, so agree if they had no knowledge of it, would not have ever gone on the settlement statement as a credit to the buyer and they likely will not do anything post closing to help obtain those funds. 

I am still rather new in the investing world, but I know with enough base knowledge and liquid capital of course, I'd be willing to pursue it for sure. 

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

Plenty of calculators out there for free and forums/groups on social media. 

I work with investors, I am extremely knowledgeable about this market and I have a strong team of vendors.

Here are additional comments:1) Buying out of state removes any local knowledge you have from assisting in your success, including knowing areas, people and costs. - We always recommend buying your first rental locally if possible and DIY managing to learn as much as possible before investing OOS.2) Lots of crooks and incompetents in the PMC world:( They both cost you money.- As already stated, you'll have a small portfolio.

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