I drive through there to our lakehouse and there are a few of these structures used for homes in the area.

If you don't understand the basic principles of construction, market standards (i.e. average cost per labor hour, cost per sqft for flooring, cost per sqft for hang/finish drywall) then you may find yourself getting taken advantage of without even knowing it.

However, I live close-by (30 minute drive), recently retired from my day-job, and if the loan is not too large, I might be willing to do a deal just to learn a bit more about another side of RE.  

Given it's location not far from the ports of Richmond and Oakland, and that the Chevron oil refinery is nearby as well, some of that is likely be driving the highest and best use assessment. chris in the deep south they turn the anchor store into a big church..  

The best market is likely a "Good" cash flow market that you have some ties to, in some way shape or form, or one that is a reasonable drive from where you live, if practical/possible. 

This really depends on what your looking to do however for a very basic overview far west side is great, downtown and very close to the Cleveland Clinic, Little Italy, Tremont, and Ohio City are still great areas.

Avoid any self-help eviction tactics like changing locks.Maintenance: As a landlord, you’re responsible for ensuring the property meets basic health and safety standards, including working plumbing, heating, and electrical systems.Inspections: While there are no mandatory inspections required before renting, your property should comply with building codes.

Many investors in syndications ask such basic questions: what's your track record, when do distributions start, and how frequently do you pay distributions.  

That system is basically: 1/ take advantage of PMLs who don't understand the market, 2/ Take that money and use it for a predatory lending scheme.

It wasn’t ideal, but it was the only way to keep the deal alive.I made the drive to her small town, met her at a local bank, and had the paperwork notarized.