You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

When we purchased our laundromat, it had a strong brand and positive reviews online.

To paraphrase Warren Buffet “it takes a lifetime to build your reputation and only a moment to destroy it”

This could be a reputation and brand killer.  

It would be pretty simple to find a mortgage loan calculator online; input the current loan balance; and modify the terms as needed.

I've found deals in local online groups on Facebook, simply asking people for what I want. 

, the more likely people will respond with valuable insights.Network actively: Join local investor meetups, online forums (like BiggerPockets), and social media groups focused on real estate to start engaging in conversations.Be open to learning: Real estate investing is a dynamic field, and the more you learn, the more you'll realize there’s to know!

I think I've talked to maybe 2 tenants on the phone so far, and I didn't mind because there's a lot of scams online.

Yes, you still do online shopping and coordination and so on, but hitting 500 hours in this case becomes far more challenging.

If you were looking at buying in Florida, but your lender is in NY or California, they dont really have to be as concerned about their reputation because the realtors (most likely) will never work with them again. #1 is the primary reason, but #2 does factor in as well.