Hey @Jay Fayz you for sure have the right idea, and if ultimately flipping and wholesaling is what you want to do, then that's a great path. 

Again, if you learn some of the basics, you won't be so nervous about the problems you will eventually face.Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

Check out The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods to get a firm grasp on why that is.

While I doubt I'll be investing here (terrified that property taxes and the pension debt will ultimately cripple property values), I'm always interested in meeting new people.

Sounds like I can safely write them off only after I purchase the rental and start the renovations to ultimately rent it out.

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

Ultimately I agree that responsiveness is very much appreciated, but you won't really know that until you start working together with the agent.

For example, a property in San Diego may lose $500 per month ($6,000 per year) but gain $60,000 per year in value, making it worthwhile to "lose" money each month in exchange for long-term gains.I recommend you start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

Ultimately our goal is to have 10 paid-off houses that will add to our retirement income.

Give The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods a read to see which neighborhoods fit your appetite for risk.