They look at the deal closely and won’t lend you money unless the deal makes sense, so it helps you avoid bad deals.

Agree on the advice their are sharks out there that are very good praying on people with various scams each month a new one pops up so avoid the housing market right now .In the mean time invest in a index fund that follows a benchmark like a S&P 500 each month/week put more money in when you are at a age that father wisdom has visited make small moves into the housing market .

They might have insights on specific zip codes or pitfalls to avoid. https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521

I'd find the guy doing what I want to do, I'd buy him a long lunch and find out all of the things I should avoid. 

If you could avoid an HOA, I'd advise to do so. 

For instance, mismatched names, employment details, or salary figures should warrant further scrutiny.Urgency to Move In: Applicants who are unusually pushy about quick move-in dates may be attempting to bypass thorough checks.Reluctance to Provide References: Hesitation or refusal to provide contactable references from previous landlords or employers is a cause for concern.Cash Offers for Faster Move-In: Proposals to pay a significant amount up front, especially in cash, to expedite the moving process can sometimes indicate an attempt to avoid scrutiny.Unverifiable Identity: Difficulty in verifying the applicant’s identity through standard identification documents can indicate potential fraud.Tips to Mitigate Rental Application Fraud:Enhance Verification Processes: Implement stringent verification processes for employment, previous rental history, and identity.

To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.Even if someone gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

Lesson learned is to pay more to get into a nicer area (B neighborhood) with more reliable tenants to avoid the vacancy risks, but again, if we can just get the 2nd unit filled we will finally have stable cash flow.

I am looking for a duplex outside of the city to live around less people (and avoid unnecessary parking tickets haha).

Hey @Alec Dressler, so this is something I would probably avoid.