It is valuable to gain another perspective.

@Michaela G.It's good to have another woman's perspective on this, so thanks for your response, Michaela! 

On the plus side, I believe and has been my experience that a motivated, hard working, intelligent, local RE operator can make good returns in any market in the USA ... they may use vastly different strategies in different markets and may need to shift those strategies as the market shifts, but there are always good returns to be had.

I can speak from a lender's perspective.

Still at the end of the day the lack of equity on the way into the property is a concern especially as we enter the "hot" months of phoenix where I'll probably end up having to lose $ up front till around Oct/Nov and carry the property as I establish my presence.The asking $ for this one is a stretch for me and I can find the funds but it would really shift my initial plan on buying a few properties this year and only now allow me to buy this 1.Would love to learn more from you if you might be open to talking.Thanks again for your feedback.Sameer

Hondros is fully on board with online classesI was enrolled there for the in-class classes in feb 2017, but they offered the online option midway so I finished them off online just a week ago and shaved 2 weeks off from what my last class would have been otherwise I liked the class interaction as many students are in the field already and bring their perspectives to the class experience as do the instructors!

@Ross Denman your comments are really insightful and provide helpful perspective.

Erie was @ $4,400.Hope that gives some perspective of the current insurance market.

It will give you a much better perspective as to what everyone is saying here.

Understandably, the lenders perspective is to investigate a borrowers liquidity and debt servicing capability, but what methodologies do you use to review the actual investment?