Here is my simple Top 5:1.Review the market – Understand the trends and conditions in the area.2.Analyze the property and the numbers – Ensure the deal makes financial sense.3.Visit the property – There’s no substitute for seeing it firsthand.4.Meet the team – Whether it’s your property manager, builder, or contractor, relationships matter.5.Complete inspections and appraisals – These protect you from costly surprises.If all these boxes are checked and the numbers work for your goals, then it’s likely a solid deal.

What's the one investment strategy you wish you'd known when you first started in real estate, and how has it shaped your journey?

We’re seeing significant softening on new placement rents, I’m interested to know if others are seeing similar trends in their own portfolios and what they're planning to do next year. 

Property values have been appreciating rapidly in recent years, and the city’s population has started growing again—a trend we haven’t seen in decades.I’m also based in California and have been investing in Detroit for several years, so I understand the concerns of out-of-state investing.

I have even had paint over 10 years that was in decent shape that I was able to match and feather.Good luck

Quote from @Alan Asriants: There has been a growing trend recently of individuals looking to house hack single-family homes.

Here’s what I’ve seen work well:Furniture Purchase:If the furniture fits the vibe you’re going for and is in good shape, buying it can definitely help you hit the ground running.

Also, I'd add that any second position debt, preferred equity, or their brother's, sister's or cousins in any shape or form are at #2 on this list, in really any asset class. 

When foreclosures dried up, we went after short sales and when those dried up we started to focus on properties with mold or foundation issues and learned how to fix those and when that started to become too difficult and the rehab was not worth it anymore I had to pivot again and we buy properties in good shape that fell through with another buyer.

You have a very nicely thought out plan and once you get the CORE 4 you are in great shape!!