I enjoyed knowing if I had to go over there or just wanted to do a drive by it was a short drive away. 

Drive through and check out the outside condition.

I have found the information thus far on this website to be fantastic, and have already incorporated the House Hack and the BRRRR into my book based on what I have learned here.My prior writing has been in the area of Biblical Fiction (I'm also an Orthodox Rabbi), but lately, I've been expanding into the area of personal growth novels.

I was practicing driving for dollars and I found an abandoned home in San Diego yesterday.

Are you really planning on driving all over town to do maid service any time a place is rented?  

Tomorrow I have four hours of driving and I'm excited already to be educated by some great people on my passion!

While on a 6-month assignment in Europe, I spent a lot of time on the road driving, and listening to Bigger Pockets Podcasts. 

Everything you mentioned can be changed with research and drive.

-I drive around, looking at properties. 

Single family/town home in a ~ 1hr drive radius of the beltway to "house hack" and rent rooms.