New here, but have been reading the forums for several months as I consider real estate investing, but am having a hard time convincing my spouse the potential "hassle" of a poor tenant is worth the benefits.Our situation includes both of us working full time w-2 jobs and our primary goal is to assist in reducing annual tax burdens. 

Personal referrals might point you in the direction of knowledgeable agents who are aware of investors' needs.Once you have a list of potential agents, interview them to ensure they align with your investment goals.

@Wayne Brooks your explanation is what I would expect but I keep reading on various lawyer web sites that the transfer tax is 7% of the current mortgage which for a 150k mortgage is 10,500, which is just nutz!

I'll second that you want to make sure you keep a record of receipts and expenses (even potentially your time) for getting the property up and running as an investment.

I have a call with a potential wholesaler tomorrow and I want to know what questions I should ask to vet him and other wholesalers to make sure they are high-quality wholesalers. 

Depending on your needs, I can potentially connect you with my underwriter who I pay for the detailed UW.    

@Aakshay Subramaniam First, you want to look for areas with high demand for rental properties and strong potential for appreciation.

When I calculate an offer on a property, I typically look at the potential rental income and subtract from that all operating expenses such as taxes, insurance, management and maintenance.

I can send you some lawyer referrals in Columbus, Ohio.

Despite its awful reputation, I see great potential due to its proximity to key attractions.I'm reaching out to ask: Are there any plans to revitalize this neighborhood?