Going in the other direction - investing locally first can give you a chance to build your experience on all the problems and successes without it being a plane ride away, and then eventually bring that knowledge to other markets if it makes sense.It is important to know the market you are investing in really well, the neighborhoods, the trends, the pros and cons of different locations, which property managers are great, which ones to avoid, the restrictions or problems you'll come up with the local municipality on a rehab - when you are getting started it is much easier to do that in your home market.

Then you must also consider how you get out of the window once you past the plane of the building face.

I’m not planing to spend it all at once.

Seems plane and simple as far as that goes. 

Treat the cost of those plane tickets and coffee dates as an insurance policy.  

Go educate yourself on that, a plane ticket and a couple nights in a hotel might be the best investment you make all year.

@James Gates that’s a great year, planing to start next year with our first one, how do you make sure that the bank will refi the loan ?

Beena and Hunter, first of all thanks for the responds.For the subject - We are doing are first steps in the area.the strategy is buy in hold, focusing on cash flow with trying to buy in the developing area's.buying up to 100k, rehab and rent. in 2022 we are planing to purchase 3-4 properties. any other recommandations , do's an dont's in AL and in the city espically will be very helpful and welcoming.thanks again!

When I got off the plane 11 years ago my 1st impression was , this is Cleveland!!

In the area, I really don’t see anything luxurious, pretty plane and simple.