Here's some guidance on buying your first investment property in Southern California or Columbus, Ohio:Down payment:For investment properties, lenders typically require 15-30% down payment on your first investment15% down is possible with excellent credit (700+ score)20-25% down is more common, especially for multi-unit propertiesSection 8 considerations:Pros:Guaranteed portion of rent from governmentPotential for longer-term tenantsMay be easier to fill vacancies in some areasCons:More paperwork and inspections requiredRent amounts set by local housing authorityPotential property damage concernsOther tips:Research local markets carefully - price trends, rental rates, etc.Factor in all costs - taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacanciesConsider starting with a single-family home or small multi-unitBuild a team - real estate agent, property manager, contractorsHave cash reserves beyond just the down paymentUnderstand landlord-tenant laws in your chosen locationI'd recommend talking to local real estate agents in both areas to get more specific market insights.

Lower electric bill, carbon foot print, blah blah blah. what's not to love.BUT I'm in Florida, not sure about you.

We host a monthly real estate meetup and we have people that come to that all the time and complain about what they didn't know.

I run a wholesaling operation here in Florida, but I got started flipping properties, so don't think wholesaling is an entry to real estate investing because it's not.Feel free to reach out with any questions. 

I do think the seller is at risk on perceived  cost however those costs aren’t real if appraised at sales price. 

Does it make sense to rent my current house out in Poconos, PA so we could rent an apartment in Florida?

Every state has their own laws, court procedures and legal forms pertaining to how decedent's estate are handled, including creditors and heirs.The rules vary widely, however you ought to decide if you are looking to buy the asset (real estate) from the person in charge or the interest of heir(s).Generally speaking, you'll probably want to buy the real estate, so you'll be looking to contact the person who will be able to sell it to you, typically called administrator, or if named in the will, executor, or by the generic term, personal representative.So, I suggest you ask the clerk at your probate court which document will contain the name and address of the person in charge.

If I allow them, they must own real estate and have impeccable credit.

The litigant attorney only learned the owner moved to Florida after selling the business and bought a home there.

@Diana JingHow is your new build property in Florida going so far?