,You can start with some character reviews from people you have done business with in the past.

And yes a trip to the market and or other prudent up front due diligence would have saved most all of these folks.. but they simply did not do that.. 

The fact that she didn't report it OR check on the person below to see if they were okay speaks volumes to her character. 

If not I will try to refinance and then either pull the trigger on furnishing the home for STR (cleaners and handymen were hired/ interviewed on the trip out,) and still have the boots on the ground in case of emergency.. or just long term rental and refinance, repeat…Not a perfect deal, but I learned a ton!

I did make a trip to Detroit and drove around neighborhoods to realize 'every block is different'.Its still sounds lucrative wrt ROI, but with concerns of- Property taxes : probably most complicated of all states- Home insurance is too high- Property management is too variable, anywhere from 6-12%.

Not only is there an brain addled person, but the drug issue shows their character as well.

Starting close to home or a day trip is easier to view properties. go to meet-ups and explore areas. 

I like the camaraderie, folks help each other with issues that arise.It is my anecdotal observation that in some groups, folks mostly invest with the main character, who gets rich(er) and the folks make some money. 

I do a lot of repairs and maintenance myself when I come down in the winter and during the quarters I make the trip, but here's just a sample of things I had to pay for in the last year:Pool screening: $985 (big hailstorm destroyed 13 screens)Irrigation repair: $394Irrigation repair #2: $230Palm trimming (twice: $200Pool light replacement: $950And all of that of course leaves out routine replacement of towels that get left at theme parks, sheets and pillowcases, busted blenders, and a host of other things I can't even think of right now. 

I am joining her on the trip and won't be attending the conference.