A professional RE investor once told me, when it comes to purchasing investment properties, to never take ownership of anything unless it's rented, leased, or sold.

@Keeya WangJones,The calculators on here work well, consistent, and look professional when showing the person you are obtaining financing from. 

A few questions for:-investors who are targeting rental properties holding for mid/long term, - already have few years of experience doing so-NOT a 'do-it-by-your-self' approach - investing out of your town or state and using local professional teamsThe questions:1.

And, he thinks you're less likely to get a professional tenant when working with people who typically have less education.

When someone calls you and says they are not interested in selling now but might be later, I always follow up via phone.  

send me a private message (can't list email or phone numbers in the thread). 

The key is to get started and try out one method, track the results and get talking to the sellers on the phone.

However, many people succeed there, and if the property is well or professionally managed, it can be great.

I currently am a Sales professional with Nestle.

Get a professional tenant and you could be in for death by a thousand cuts. 2) Not knowing your numbers - If you buy with the wrong numbers you can get in trouble quick. if you just assume that you buy for X rent for Y and pay Z in mortgage, insurance and taxes you will be in for a big suprise when things start breaking etc. turning your good investment into a money trap3) Related to number 2 and a fairly common one if you spend all your profits and don't reserve when suprises hit you will not have enough money to cover it4) Not keeping up the property - No one wants to live in a dump, a slum lord attracts slum lord tenants and this can eventually catch up to you5) Speculating  - This could go very well or very bad.