I would contact the housing authority who manages the S8 program in your area to get an accurate ideal of how they determine what they'll pay on the tenant's behalf.

I also asked about any plumbing issues, which I would get inspected during the due diligence phase, along with other major concerns.While I don't have much experience assessing houses and determining the extent of repairs, I’ve spent a lot of time in stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s.

One block can perform very well, and another block will destroy you.Before you invest, I recommend you locate a quality PM that can help you narrow down markets, determine which rentals perform best, cross-check sales prices and rent rates, and take over management right away.The biggest mistake you could make is to get talked into buying in the wrong neighborhood and then learning that the good managers won't touch it. 

However, I’m not sure how to determine if it’s truly a good place to focus on.

I did have to fight for my rent determination amount just to get it to the comps in the area.

As you gain experience, you'll determine where your talent lies and how to proceed.

However, many real estate investors use the inspection to determine if the property is a good investment.Here’s more information about these two steps:Home appraisal: Mortgage lenders require a home appraisal to ensure the sale price represents its current market value.

source_impr...Depending on your goals (using it for you and your family a few times a year and hoping it pays for itself, parking some cash for a few years and hoping for appreciation or strictly cash flow) will determine what size home and what your budget should be.

First I would try to determine what happened.

Who would take a highly motivated student who does not give up easily and is determined to figure this out?