We will be settling/semi-retiring in Wilmington and I would love to connect with some investors in the area and do some networking.

My spouse and I fell into real estate semi-accidentally: three years ago, we decided to lease our first home here in Austin after purchasing a second home, and then a few months later, we inherited a property in a small town on the Oregon coast.

If you want to be semi-passive there are other options; purchase a small apartment complex and hire 3rd party property management for example.

We did 10 units and are waiting to see how they hold up when its time for semi-annual inspections. 

(not to be confused with Semi-monthly which they do have).Oh and both are free.

I would agree with those that have cautioned me about investing with family and I totally agree it is not something I would normally pursue but that being said this is a great deal and they are not always easy to find and I feel will be a great semi low risk way for me to learn as well as teach my brother.

So I opted for an 30 year old Semi Detached, Finished basement and Tenant already there paying $800  :D. 

There are six section 8 units down the street from us; 5 of those units are quiet, hard-working adults with young kids who behave BUT ONE unit has a family of the stereotypical section 8 tenants - they let everyone stay with them, there is trash all over their yard all the time, they usually have broken doors and furniture in front of the unit on a semi-weekly basis, and they even allow drug dealers to use their yard/corner for dealing. 

Tongue in cheek comment but semi-serious if you have $500K in cash you could take complete control of that neighborhood between listings, tax sales, and land bank in about 18 months.

As times goes on things will get more tenant friendly in all areas so the biggest thing to do is not rely on having that save you because you are expecting legal troubles.Whether you stay in small single family or go into multi family I would recommend keeping in mind the asset class and physically go to the properties you will be buying to ensure you are buying what is being presented.I would stay local if possible or semi local within a state or 2 to ensure you can control things easier.