Stay away from Philly as their laws are as tricky as NYC's.I would strongly recommend you purchase something within an hours drive from you so you can learn on the job as a landlord. 

I had a case where it looked like the umbrella policy could get used but 1) ended up Not being needed 2) was vehicle related, not RE related.Our Son’s girlfriend was driving one of our vehicles and got into an accident.  

I could add this4) Maximize agency financing to improve overall returns safely

Once I reached that goal, the drive for the next one felt just as strong.Reminder to enjoy the journey and that it’s not about the destination.Every goal you reach, you will enjoy it for a short time, then be on to the next one.How do you balance striving to do better and for more while understanding that it will never be enough?

@Annie AnsonWorking with a Property Manager:  If you hire a property manager for on-the-ground tasks like maintenance, you can still meet material participation—if you handle the majority of the work that drives the property’s success (e.g., guest services, pricing strategy, advertising).

Prioritize tackling critical issues and beefing up security to keep your property safe and sound.

Portfolio Payoff is very conservative and safe.

These squatters don’t deserve my sympathy at all—one non-paying tenant even drives a BMW SUV and has never paid a dime!

If a tenant has a recent eviction action then it is safe to assume they are not a responsible tenant.

Quote from @An Lan: I am not a professional real estate investor, I just invest in houses as a safe asset and do not choose to rent them out.