A few popular events: Flipping Mojitos, Gwinnetwork, Atlanta REIA. 

Being it’s your first deal, I would personally take advantage of the leverage here and go with a low down payment, but the choice is yours.

I would recommend a triple net lease (NNN) where the tenant is responsible for paying additional fees - the property tax, all maintenance (including or excluding the roof - (your choice) and insurance on the property.

But if there is a way that I can't put all my eggs in one basket with a market that has not a very good reputation with forums and sites that ranks Cleveland as a city of last choice, why not ask for opinions of people who know their markets well, their advantages and disadvantages?

I would try to find one l ou cally at first then select someone popular nationally. 

I would NOT provide a lawnmower, even though it came free - since this creates a liability for you.I would give the tenant a choice:  (a)  they are responsible for their own lawn care / snow removal, or (b) the landlord will take on that responsibility with an additional monthly charge of X. 

The choice is ultimately up to you! 

Neither one is the wrong choice.  

You basically have two choices right now, you can put more money down or have a higher monthly payment.  

In no particular order I have listed some of the most popular markets for out of state investorsCleveland, OhioCincinnati, OhioDayton, OhioToledo, OhioYoungstown, OhioCincinnati, OhioMemphis, TennesseeBirmingham, AlabamaKansas City, MissouriSaint Louis, MissouriIndianapolis, IndianaDetroit, MichiganErie, PennsylvaniaLouisville, KentuckyMilwaukee, WisconsinJackson, MississippiEach of these markets is popular with turnkey investors because of the low barrier to entry, high rental demand & high rent to price ratio.