There will be a host of things that you do not know.

Massey, he hosts cash flow game events to meet and network with people.

Man, I don't want to discourage you on this one point, but NODs are tough because they rarely have equity, and short sales SUCK especially in California where the bank can just bundle up their REOs and sell them to Blackstone Capital at 90% ARV.

In a 1930s vintage home around here, I would also be checking for asbestos in plaster (though it may be old enough to predate that practice) and any floor and/or ceiling tiles.We would also assume no insulation behind the lath-and-plaster unless it was added later (around here that often means UFFI in the 70s, which is another host of problems).

Maybe you can join us for the next Meetup hosted by @Jonathan Makovsky .

@Justin Silverio hosts a really good quarterly event in Woburn and Ann hosts the Black Diamond event in Waltham (2nd meeting in Worcester) which is worth the drive.Are you looking right into buying apartments in NY or do you want to get your feet wet locally first.  

I definitely suggest you come to the monthly BP meetup that @Brie Schmidt hosts. 

We happened to visit an open house, hosted by an assistant.  

We encourage the use of manufactured logs or store bought wood bundles, or even to set up a candle display in the firebox instead.

My impression was that they will hold and bundle them in a region - ie, once a year in Colorado is an estimate.