Bad" market areas, which a number of people might include South Providence and Olneyville in, tend to be much cheaper, so the returns are better - but properties in those areas also tend to be much more management intensive.If you're going to be managing yourself, which is a very good way to get familiar with an area, I'd say stick within 1/2 hour (ideally 15-20 minutes) of wherever you're going to spend most of your time (home, if you'll be retired).You'll find very quickly that before you know it, you'll probably develop the Rhode Island mindset of not wanting to drive too far, and it's just easier to stay on top of properties when they're closer by.I'm much more familiar with properties in the Warwick/Coventry/West Warwick and north part of the state, so if you know you're going to be centered around Newport I'd suggest connecting with some people specifically around there.

Not only about real estate investing, but I'd be able to point out all of the crappy lip-stick workmanship in this house.Best thing I can do at this point is make improvements.

So next year we will stick to our guns and just say no to buying. 

For me, I like to stick to what I know.

IF they even own the asset .. not get their doc's and deeds and all sorts of other VERY routine aspects of a real estate transactions just screams of amateur hour.. and the marketing company just throwing up as much as will stick make their money have no back end liability and laugh all the way to the bank. 

Please feel free to direct me to the correct sub-forum if this is not the correct one.I have been steadily investing buy and holds in southern New England (MA, RI, CT) with some decent success. However, when I look at...

If you dedicate yourself and create a system, and you stick to it, Craigslist can be a source for your first couple of deals until you can save up for a direct mail campaign.

I was.He renovated completely, so no major headaches for 10-15 years, and with bi-yearly inspections, his units will stays relevant on the market.Also the Section 8 tenants, what do you think they will choose: the brand new renovated, trendy unit, or the one "lip-stick" good-enough renovated 10-20 years ago?

You could always try and stick the next water heater in the attic and that would make it harder for them to steal it.

I'm also interested since we have some borrowers that defaulted that we'd really like to stick it to them.