Cleveland has a lot of good in-person real estate investor meetups.

If you NEED to buy for cash flow, you are NOT ready to invest in real estate.

When scouting a property as a real estate investor, these three factors are paramount:Location, location, location: It's a cliché for a reason.

For those following along at home, that language is found in Title 10, Chapter 1, Article E, section 6 (or 10-1E-6) in the municipal code.It reads: "The renting or leasing of real property for residential occupation for periods of time less than thirty (30) days is prohibited in any zoning district within the town, except as permitted in this title for hotels, motels and bed and breakfast inns."

And I mean really done well in order to be competitive.If you want to get the real skinny, reach out to @Shawn McCormick.

Here's some guidance on buying your first investment property in Southern California or Columbus, Ohio:Down payment:For investment properties, lenders typically require 15-30% down payment on your first investment15% down is possible with excellent credit (700+ score)20-25% down is more common, especially for multi-unit propertiesSection 8 considerations:Pros:Guaranteed portion of rent from governmentPotential for longer-term tenantsMay be easier to fill vacancies in some areasCons:More paperwork and inspections requiredRent amounts set by local housing authorityPotential property damage concernsOther tips:Research local markets carefully - price trends, rental rates, etc.Factor in all costs - taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacanciesConsider starting with a single-family home or small multi-unitBuild a team - real estate agent, property manager, contractorsHave cash reserves beyond just the down paymentUnderstand landlord-tenant laws in your chosen locationI'd recommend talking to local real estate agents in both areas to get more specific market insights.

I want to deploy the knowledge on the opportunities in real estate that I know are there but being OOS makes it difficult to move forward and just discouraged at the moment. 

If you are in a trade or business, you may potentially be able to write off costs to attend a meetup, and meals while you attend.The purpose is justified as you are trying to build connections which is required within the real estate space.The costs of the meals have to be reasonable.

Hello, I am looking to expand my brokerage from Chattanooga, TN to North GA but am having some issues with Georgia Real Estate Commission.

Start by reading the Ultimate Real Estate Investing Guide: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides/ultimate-real-estate-investing-guide/introduction2.