Great advice from both comments above.

I heard a podcast about a women who made an Internet comment that annoyed someone, and the other person contacted her employer, landlord, many other anonymously, and tried to ruin her life.I suggest throughout credit and background screening, and renter references if possible, and go from there.

I'm not either one of those, but I do agree with the above comment about carry-over loss.

@Kirsten Milliken I can't comment on your numbers but will say that a very low interest rate is going to have higher points and closing costs.

Based on both your comments, however, it sounds like both approaches may be worth looking into further.Thanks a bunch! 

The name should be in blue in the comment box.

Make some offers and get in the game.No substitute for practical real life experience.My final comment if you want to buy and hold and are investing for the long term.The biggest factor in a successful investment will NOT be what property you buy.

 @Jenning Yu:Thanks for the comments. 

Please drop your comment and let me know which one is currently working for you.Thank you and happy hunting!

If I asked for life advice on how I should invest in RE maybe your comment would have been more appropriate...