Spend time getting to know where the schools, parks, restaurants, etc are.

In 2007 I decided to go back to school and became a Paramedic, I loved the job but found I couldn't balance OK pay with acceptable work conditions.

Desirable neighborhood with great schools.

But the kids need to get to school, crap the dog has fleas again, I already have a solid job. it can wait. 

In addition, I would shoot for something simple like a 1960s built ranch on a slab crawlspace in a good neighborhood with good schools, and stay away from the owner built homes and/or basements for now.

If you're doing buy and hold, I usually just look for the gross rent multiplier to see what's worth looking at, then run hard numbers and check schools and area after that.

@Bob E. describes the school of thought that I subscribe to. 

This umbrella policy covers me if I hit a school bus on the way home, if someone gets hurt at a rental or even my primary residence.  

None of those people want to move frequently, I think families tend to move more because they become pressed to as kids outgrow certain things in the area (school, sports, friends) or new kids are added to the mix. 

3) Does anyone have any experience with the Allied Real Estate School.