I was told that I’d be able to grant someone with Power of Attorney. 2. 

Would it be better to go with non-friends as you select your power team?  

Here are some recommendations for you: Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/usersSet up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsRead Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investingCheck out BP Podcasts: https://www.biggerpockets.com/podcastIf you wish to tag someone in the conversation on the forum, type @ followed by their name and then select the name of that person which should appear below the comments box.

Kristin,Start having conversations with agents and investors in those select cities and get a feel for the submarkets within.

In order to get power turned on our management company paid them and then we had to sort it out later.

I avoid high tension power line routes and toxic waste dumps areas and industrial areas and light manufacturing areas and main highways.

Unfortunately, we've been self-employed in a non-real estate industry for a LONG time now and we couldn't document our income in a way that was sufficient for our lender - so we did a cash deal instead.I thought the equity in that property and in the home we own outright (about $256,000 in total equity) would be enough to reset the conversation for our next deal, but our lender says existing equity will always be overshadowed in our situation by documented income (or lack thereof.)  

Here are some recommendations for you:Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/usersSet up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsRead Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investingIf you wish to tag someone in the conversation on the forum, type @ followed by their name and then select the name of that person which should appear below the comments box.

Here are some recommendations for you:Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/usersSet up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsRead Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investingCheck out BP Podcasts: https://www.biggerpockets.com/podcast If you wish to tag someone in the conversation on the forum, type @ followed by their name and then select the name of that person which should appear below the comments box.

Unfortunately, we started pretty late so can't rely on the power of time to help us much.