Patrick,Food for thought:http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article10059008.html - outdated, but still relevant.

Although I do wish they would not have left the mess and food sitting out in the open when they left (especially in the bedroom).

Just some food for thought. 

I have a tenant on food stamps who was at the social security office and saw me at the property when she got back.

It's useless to hire a pest control company (or spray yourself) if you've got a tenant who leaves food and garbage out that continues to attract roaches. 

I posted this in another thread, but thought it would make good food for discussion here:I've been struggling with this.

Tons of great food.

As stated above, except for any food or drink you happen to order there is no charge to attend.

There is so much to learn and will just try to ingest as much as I can comprehend, and then seek advice of people like yourselves who have the blueprints.

Learn a LOT about investing out of state.Research the market you are going into and figure out the best markets.Make connections in those markets and vet those connections.Save up more money and move up from the war zone and go to a $30,000 to $50,000 minimum market where there is less crime, less vacant lots and vacant houses, where the police will actually respond to a call from a homeowner, where there are jobs for your tenants to work at, where there are schools for your tenants to send their children, where there are real grocery stores for them to buy real food (not gas station or fast food).