------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

@Joy McQuearyRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

In fact if you don't do proper due diligence some are "traps" with bad layouts, fire damage, and tiny sized lots. 

It was over $5,000 damage but the bed bug company said it wasn't their fault and the tenant signed the contract that the bed bug company wasn't responsible for any damages so I was stuck with fixing it myself.

Depending on where you invested in Florida, you could have lost a good deal of money due to hurricane damage.

If a blind gets damaged, they are likely responsible for the damage.

If cybercrime industry was a country in 2021, it would have been the world's third-largest economy after the U.S and China, totaling a 6 trillion USD in inflicted damages.

who covers maintenance and damage?

If the security deposit is not enough to cover lost rent, utilities, and damage, you are welcome to sue in small claims court (which most of us have never done).

@Catherine Emert - In Virginia too, and likely in every state, tenants are responsible for damage they cause, including a pest infestation.