My own home will be the first property I manage and will give me the opportunity to learn from trial and (hopefully not too much) error what I need to account for, before I manage other people's homes.I plan to take a COS course and get my certification within the next year, but I will already be managing my own property prior to that, as the next course in Denver isn't until September and I plan to buy my next property within the next month.

Turnover will be higher (1-2 years on average for us) as kids like to move around and change housemates and they grow and learn more about themselves.Unlike John's advice above, I do not recommend having parents as a co-signatory  to the lease ...

Where I live in NJ to get a CO a non grounded two prong is no issue, a non grounded three prong outlet requires a label on the outlet stating it is not grounded.

I would know school test scores, where the new homes were being built, where inmigration was going to, where new roads and shopping centers were going.I wouldn't just focus on price, but on cash flow, cash on cash return and value.I would find an experienced mentor that had done 30-40 deals or even 10-15 that were the kind of deals I wanted to do, and I would offer to work for free for a couple of months to trail them and watch how they do every deal.I would have read "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," "Real Estate Advantages," and "Unlimited Real Estate Profit" sooner.I would have gotten together with other investors and done like a co-op where we all used the same contractors, keeping them busy and locking in prices, instead of waiting until I could afford to hire them full time like I do now.I would have realized the advantage of staging and professional photography in advertising sooner than I did.I'm sure I left out several things, but this is a great community, I'd love to hear what you all did well, and what you would have done differently?  

These loans can be harder to get because they have stricter requirements, but having a co-signor is a great idea.I disagree with what some people say:  "that lease to own is a horrible way to buy", I bought my first home on a lease to own and then got financing after 3 months and made over $80,000 when I sold it 3 times on lease option.

I understand the risk involved becoming a co borrower.

However, if given the choice of last months rent or a co-signer... co-signer is the better way to go... bet the co-signer the same way as you do an applicant and you’ll be solid.

1 is a co-op in Springfield.

Great work landing a CO deal from CA!

There are a number of issues involved.I'm in NYC, and if the property had two electrical meters in it, it usually means it was originally built as two and a CO issued for two.