My understanding in Maryland the seller provides the buyer with a copy of the COA papers at least 21 days prior to settlement and you have up to 7 days to review and pull out of the contract if you don't agree to the terms.  

Without that, you have to be able to not only pay your own expenses, but also your first rental plus your second rental mortgage (at least on paper) with your other sources of income (ie money from your W2 job).  

What if you could pay a little more on paper to get a better return later?

We bought cabin 1 right before the Great Recession so on paper we had lost our shirt for a few years.  

Maybe he sees nothing because he screws up the paper work this one time. 

I showed them the section 8 paper that says the 1st of every month.  

So what your saying is if you buy paper in MD on resi property you also need to be a MLO which of course also means NMLS registered.. ? 

First you need 4 years of Journeyman level experience and a licensed GC to sign that paper for you.

Its fine to map all that out on paper, but when you get in the reality hits closer.

There are lots of really rundown areas in places like Cleveland, Akron and Canton where the numbers look great on paper but that's the only place they'll look great.