This would be my first real estate investment, making the decision even more critical.I understand that backing out would mean losing the $2,000 earnest deposit.

We decided to outsource major tasks such as septic installation, plumbing, heating, and carpentry, while handling smaller projects ourselves—a decision that proved beneficial.

Ultimately, the decision should align with your long-term and short-term goals.

Hello @Melissa Sejour,Choosing an investment city is the most important decision you will make, so you are wise to carefully consider your options.Where you invest depends on your goals.

Good decision!

With enough knowledge you can make a educated decision on which approach you take.My experience:I personally don't sign up for any program who take you aside during events and try to sell packages that is just blatant sales strategy.Once you sign up there is every attempt to make you sign for their programs for bookkeeping, registered agent, LLC or corp setup fee which have ridiculous even with platinum membership.Basic standard structure they suggest to take advantage of multiple deductions can be easily achieved by proper education or work with a good firm like https://wcginc.com  who is local to you.A umbrella C-crop to manage all other LLC properties and take advantage of many tax deductions that are not available with a llc, its also used to take losses up to 100K as startup expenses and dissolve the entity after few years.Few LLC entities for investing in Real Estate, etc preferably in Wyoming or Nevada ( you can find many companies online who can do this for $150 compared to anderson $1500-$3000) , they will claim they have a secret Operating agreement which is bogus.They certainly try to take advantage of tax loopholes and claim to be smart people, my view they are just taking advantage of numbers as per their own statements.

Quote from @Aaron Letzeiser: Quote from @Sahand Vafadary: Quote from @Aaron Letzeiser: REVISED CODE@Aaron LetzeiserI was hoping to work with Obie, but on the last page before signing the documents, I came across this disclaimer, which made me rethink my decision. 

Please stop asking us for "the best" zip codes to invest in.Detroit has around 183 Residential Neighborhoods - wouldn't it be nice if "some proprety mangagement company" Classified them all as A, B, C, or D on an interactive map that real estate investors could use to make better decisions?

,and there was technology out there that would make your decision easier.

If you purchase the house, though, why would the former owner have any say in those decisions?