Communicate clearly about timelines and potential obstacles.5.

I was reading up about it, and saw that the cons of oil heating include needing to top up the oil supply, lower efficiency (than gas and electric), and potential leaking of tanks leading to environmental issues.Is anyone familiar with oil heated homes?

@Tim Delaney is an investor in the Buffalo market and shares many of your views on its long term potential!

I've never done any Sacramento STR loans and only been hit up for one potential financing opportunity there.

Look, we’d all like to search the internet, find a deal for sale, analyze the property as having a great cash flow at current interest rates, with lots of upside potential in a gentrifying market.  

Try to anticipate other potential avoidable situations with a follow up inspection to assess the Locksmith’s work and ask your tenant(s) if you can also use the time to assess for other issues such as unchanged HVAC filters, leaky pipes, working shutoff valves, working smoke detector batteries, properly working downspouts, clogged dryer vents, evidence of water damage from leaking roof, etc,etc,etc.

And one point the OP made about their credit.. only gurus talk about that.. by the time someone is days away from foreclosure their credit is trashed  having it actually go to sale will hurt a tiny bit .. but your not saving anything. 

I'm new to real estate investing, but have thrown myself into learning as much as I can by joining a Veteran based investment community, have been working with my realtor and looking daily for potential multi family properties in the Dallas area for house hacking, which I've set myself an deadline to be completed by May.

Since you’re still figuring out where to invest, look for areas with strong rental demand, good schools, low crime, and potential for future growth.

@Hector Lewis - The decision ultimately depends on your current cash reserves relative to your financial needs, as well as your willingness to reinvest for potential appreciation.