Looking for a "Boots on the Ground" person in Indianapolis or Anderson, IN - who can go check out the homes and scout the neighborhood, take pictures, videos and inform me if there are any visible issues with the home - structure, landscaping, paint, etc. 

Hi Carlos,Your stats look pretty decent.The scouting report says you lack power but you just hit a three run homer a few days ago.

I am seeking out software that will help me identify HOT areas of PA / CT for me to buy my 1st Multifamily that meet my buying criteria, TOP CRITERIA:Potential for highest Property Appreciation & potential for hi...

I devoured two whole shows today on a long property "scouting" mission.

Use your schedule e (or c) for rental property to deduct whatever you can legally according to the IRS (ideally so the net is near 0 or negative).Rental income- any repairs Jan 1 - Dec 31- home office expenses, cell phone, education, travel trips for biz- car mileage for rental property or scouting new deals- any management fees / other services like lawn care, plumber, Hvac, etc.- house depreciation (purchase price x % of price NOT land 50-70% / 27.5 years)That's how you minimize net taxable income.

We have scouted the property numerous times, actually been inside the building (not any of the apartments) and have decided to bid on the property.

That being said, it doesn't mean this cannot me an extremely useful tool for scouting properties (actually writing my first blog article on that today, so timing was perfect). 

@John Banks - Great story and step-by-step on some of your scouting & rehab process.  

I'm not giving up - I just watched a contractor friend of mine get two properties under contract for pennies on the dollar and and were hoping to scout out another couple of gems that no one really knows about right now. 

Personally, I would pick cities where I had trusted boots on the ground to do some scouting for me and then start analyzing deals using the Bigger Pockets Rental Properties Calculator to see where I would get the best returns, then handicap those returns using population and demographic trends - Basically I would find the best place to purchase buy and hold properties where I had someone I could trust on the ground.