Paul area.I think this site is thus far an invaluable resource and I look forward to interacting with everyone and learning the ropes. 

The best way to do this is to interact regularly in the forums!

The FEMA people were okay after the flood as far as things went,  awesome in their interactions with us but in the end after a flood you are not made whole to what things were like before the flood so that is the cost of the flood zone.  

There seems to be a general attraction which is on point of interacting with the 'property' less.

So if you are still following this make a section of land with two sides on major highways and one side on a regular side road of small town USA.

Something that is updated regularly?

You are far less likely to get "drama" over an offer from a realtor seller than you are from a regular seller, IMO.

It often seems impossible to escape during (and even before and after) regular business hours, so I'm not sure how I'd go about business on the real estate side.Right now, I'm rehabbing a duplex nights and weekends (my first property), but that's no fun... so just reaching out for ideas and advice from those of you who have "been there".

Though the homes are in great shape, I get calls regularly from these tenants for maintenance issues, asking to pay late on the rent, etc.When you finally do get someone who trashes the place, the extra rehab cost and the increased vacancy rate begins to erode your returns.

Either that or it's just regular BS!