Hey guys, my family has done a couple rentals in the Birmingham area and want to know what are the good areas that have worked for yall! 

I also buy long term rentals out of state and just put an offer on one in Arkansas.

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

I wonder if you could look on Zillow or Redfin for apartment rentals that have been unfilled for say more than 100 days.

Quote from @Kisaki Nicole Kaopua: I would run the numbers on that HELOC and and the rental numbers too.

Then you can read a more in-depth book like The Book On Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner or The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss.2.

My brother is in Milwaukee and invest with me in Idaho but does not own any rentals there.  

It appeals to desperation on both sides of the transaction, which also makes it a great online class to sell... 

-Since you will be house hacking, see what 1 bedroom rentals are going for in the area.

Instead of jumping into an expensive Long Island market with negative cash flow, consider investing in a Texas market like San Antonio, Houston, or DFW suburbs—these areas offer strong rental demand, lower property taxes than NY, and better cash flow potential.