Both allege they were his common-law spouse.I am imagining this playing out like a live Jerry Springer episode, with probate court as the stage and legal claims as the punches.

My biggest recommendation is to look on social media and see who the “big” players are for investor focused teams in your area.

There’s nothing wrong with playing it safe, starting small, mastering your strategy, and then scaling up—especially when using other people’s money.That said, as others have mentioned, house hacking is a fantastic strategy.

Strong property management and careful tenant placement also play a critical role in success here, so I recommend partnering with a turnkey company or an agent who specializes in these areas to make the process smoother.As for rental demand, homes that sit for extended periods are often the result of issues like pricing, condition, or tenant quality—not necessarily a reflection of the market as a whole.

I will play devil's advocate and mention what kind of properties you may get creatively.

Mid term rentals however are another viable strategy for the area should further restrictions come into play.

The "high cash flow areas" you speak of are only good on paper, and while they can be if you play everything right and all goes well, I find that is harder than it seems.

@Jordan Sachs I can not speak to PA but in MN, yes, I have seen similar scenarios play out. 

Playing for cash flow still, but also a little for appreciation and the single families typically dont require as much hands on work on a weekly basis (mowing grass, shoveling snow, etc.)Everybodys niche will be a little different.  

Of course, if you are doing a lot of buying and selling, it is always good to know who the players are because there are some that do top quality work and others that do not.