If you're willing and able, I do recommend the "house hacking" strategy which is just a fancy name for buying a rental property and living in one of the units, because you'll get very favorable financing - an owner-occupied fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.I'd also say, analyze that property as if you won't live there and it's a pure rental, and make sure the property is still cash flow positive if there's a tenant in your unit because then you'll know if it's actually a good investment.And when you analyze it, include payment of a property manager in your #s because if you don't, and doing so would make it go cash flow negative, then you've just bought yourself a job because you literally can't step away from managing it without losing money.

We recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

Any areas of the city that are recommended to start looking in? 

@Matthew McleanBigger Pockets is a great place to find an accountant specializing in real estate taxation.A good real estate accountant can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding an accountant specializing in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.Consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for an accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

I’d love to hear any tips or strategies that have worked well for you in real estate marketing, especially with PPC campaigns.For those who’ve done this successfully, are there specific keywords, ad placements, or campaign types that you recommend?

Pending Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

That cost us 3k to fix Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Readers are advised to seek professional advice.

In fact, I would want to go even lower because there's a very good chance some damage is hidden and costs will run higher than anticipated.If you aren't experienced, I recommend you just buy the good apple. 

@Wiley Hood to be honest, with all the new regulations around documentation for cost segregation that has come out, I recommend having a professional do them.