Thanks to everyone reading this and commenting - it would be about $1k to travel out for the auction, so I want to avoid that if it is a waste of time and money (and health) flying out to the auction.  

Unfortunately we also get tire kickers pretty regularly.

Additionally, many owners find the annual re-inspections of S8 tenants’ apartments a useful reminder of the need to do what all landlords should be doing each year, walking through their rentals and ensuring that any obvious health and safety issues are addressed. 

It seems like the common theme for investing OOS successfully is creating effective teams and systems in the market you'll be investing, and having solid, reliable property management who you communicate with regularly.

I don't know one individual on the buyer (networks) or seller (producers) side who aren't in fear of losing their job on a regular basis.

I wouldn't count that as an operating expense since its not a regular repeating expense. 

They also further prevented short term rental owners from cutting their losses and expanded their definition of short term rentals to include anything under 6 months (previously is was 30 days).STRs were ordered shut down and are prohibited from renting to locals, staycations, essential employees, health care workers, and intra island renters.

Examples-- Max out Roth IRA (currently $6k max) - Max out company 401k matching (or the equivalent of 401k) - Contribute to regular IRA (up to $13.5k)- Pay off all debts (except mortgage) What are some personal finance tips you always give to others and why?

If you're looking at something other than a college town or tourist areas (which are unlikely to have properties that inexpensive), I'll bet that you'll have a harder time than you think selling off those new lots.In general, unimproved land moves more slowly than regular homes. 

This will change the value add game but its a bit too early to know the real affects as the lending environment is a moving target and we don't know how or when the health crisis will end for good.