If you’re nervous, dig into local investor clubs.. from what I’ve heard, even in London you’ll find groups meeting over coffee, talking shop, and sharing leads.

Shopping around, I also spoke with a second lender.

I currently have 3 LTR and soon will be remodeling a small family-owned shopping center in Wimberley, Texas. 

It was a pizza shop and now is a blank slate. 

If you have the time to shop around, first look at your local consignment shops, nextdoor or facebook.

For example if there is a Starbucks there, typically there can't be a competing coffee shop in the same plaza. 

Criteria:6 months STR2 bd, 2 ba, Single Level House Furnished with yard, washer & dryer with A/C (inland not near coast)Pet Allowable 40 lb labodor 10 yrs, 40 lbs Red Heeler Mix and 6 lbs catNear VA Hospital, shops, grocery stores (at least 25 minutes commute)

Find an Insurance Broker that can shop the market.

This is my smallest property but the biggest PIA to get lending on since I can't shop it to Fannie/Freddie and competitors.

At the time I looked, 20 or so years ago, the problem with smaller down towns is the proliferation of nearby strip malls, where the stores are surrounded by a large parking lots, and for laundromats, attract more customers as they can park easily, walk to adjacent stores for shopping, snacks, and browse newspaper and magazine racks, which explains why they do better, there's more customers.