Quote from @Edward Barrett: New investor here trying to stay in my local market (Dayton, OH).Since I've started looking for my first deal I've come across a few section 8 properties that seem to pencil, but I'm a bit loath to jump into that kind of deal.

Quote from @Devin Peterson: Hey Michael,Local to you in Middletown here I would love to connect and chat more about this one. 

My local community bank that I had a relationship established with helped me finance this deal.

Quickly analyze properties using the 50% rule (assuming half of rent goes to expenses) and verify rental comps on Zillow, Rentometer, or with local property managers.

When considering single-family homes (SFH) or small multifamily properties, it’s important to analyze rental demand, local property values, and rental rates to ensure you’re getting strong cash flow potential.

Yes BofA is all over the country but if you go to your local branch it's pretty likely that loan officer and/or office wouldn't be licensed to operate in another state. 

Always recommend local (or at least some level of boots on the group).

Hey Manny I am local to salt lake city would love to connect

As a first time and out of state investor, my top priorities for this first investment were (1) a property that would be quick to rent (as I didn’t have other properties to offset extended vacancy rates), and (2) a very strong local PM team that RTR had extensive success with.

State average homeowners insurance rates indicate the risk of natural disasters.Information Sources for Data-Driven Decision MakingUtilize these resources to gather the necessary data for your city selection process:Population Size and Growth: Wikipedia's Metropolitan Statistical Area pageAppreciation Rates by Zip Code: Zillow ResearchCrime Rate: Avoid investing in cities on this list.Comparative Homeowners Insurance: ValuePenguinProperty Taxes: LendingTree (as an indicator of overall operating costs)The Importance of Local ExpertiseWhile research and data are essential, remember that general knowledge only goes so far.