Mostly because the tax incentives are *insanely* good. 

Yes, property taxes are higher for investors but not terrible. 

I would be beneficial to determine if they are other aspects of the property that make it a worthwhile investment (tax, appreciation etc). 

We were initially looking out of state for a potential move and or investment property just because the property taxes without being able to homestead, plus high cost of insurance, and harsh weather on homes made me feel like it might not be worth it.

You can always use a software like Turbo-Tax and follow the prompts.

You and Him are filing one joint tax return. 

I have seen many investors lose money due to purchasing site unseen.

There are tax benefits to running everything through an LLC, but again, seek advice from a tax professional.

You want an investment that pays for itself, including mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and even some money set aside for a reserve to cover vacancies and capital expenditures.

Credit is a factor as bad credit may limit options, or may have the lender require you to put 10 or 20 years of taxes and insurance into escrow.