Quote from @Tessa Tsui: You claim to have read those articles before, but you are using the wrong terminology and asking a question that is clearly answered by the resources Russell provided.

This group really pushed me over the edge to NOT signing up with one of those coaching services and come here with my questions, so here goes.I really want to find a home in one of a few particular neighborhoods in the Poconos.

@Coty LeBlanc I originally used it as a set it and forget it tool and it was better than not having I suppose, but then I really dug into training and learning and I saw 50% increase in one property and 20% in the other.

Quote from @Julie Philpott: Hello everyone, I recently noticed drug use near my property in Franklinton.

Will this home be something you use as a ladder to another, or will it be in your portfolio to grow wealth and cash flow in the future.

This will be my first rental property and I want to do the right thing. 

I bought from a primary homeowner in Indianapolis metro area who took really good care of this home (I did live in this house and rented it out when I moved back to California) and from a flipper in Indy more recently.As far as primary homeowners, they can range from taking really good care of the house to someone who has a lot of deferred maintenance - I renovated a local property that had a lot of issues.  

We meet on the first Tuesday of every month and I've made a lot of great connections and done deals with a lot of people I've met in the room (I've been going for over 3 years now and only started co-hosting it this year).

You need to understand the market, advertise to buyers, show it in the best light, know what to say and what not to say, be skilled at negotiation, understand contracts, and much more.If you don't know how valuable a good agent can be, it's because you've never used one, or they made it look easy because they are skilled. 

That said, if you were in my shoes would you advise looking into syndications or trying to find deals to buy and hold myself?