There is a pretty descent rental market there though mostly catering to students for Marshall University.

The rent would be over 60% of their take home leaving less than $600 for other basics like utilities, food/household and basic car expenses (gas and insurance only).

In my experience, most MF investors don't attend general meet ups which are catered to SFH investing.

Someplace with food/dinner, or is food not a big deal?

@Lathea Morris The retail space is fitted for food use, and is occupied by a credit tenant that pays 1/2 of the taxes for the entire building, plus 50% of any increase over the base year.

Can you give me some pointers and food for thought before I purchase so I can see if this is our cup of tea?

Water filtration, gas pumps (no gas available for cars or food transportation) the Internet, lights, refrigeration would all be offline for months while the grid is brought back on.

I'll get professional photography, catered open houses, staging, etc. at my expense.

the seller pays the buyers agent as well.as an agent you work for your broker for 2 years in most states then you can take the brokers exam and be on your own .. so yes there is a apprenticeship if you will.there are plenty of low cost brokers that only charge a very very nominal fee to hang your license I mean less than 500 a transaction.. just have to google for them.. these cater to investor agents.and an agent is at no disadvantage vis a vi making offers on MLS properties as anyone else.. only thing you put in your offer is a statement staying you are an agent.. that's all that's requiredWhat @Chinmay J. is referring to is you get the hot sheet at 2 in the morning.. now not many brokers or agents I know is going to look at it scan it and send you deals. .you need to do this for yourself.My wife is an agent she does one flip a quarter.. she finds them on MLS ( and not at 2 am either LOL) last one she did she made a little over 125k cash in her skinny jeans.. right off of MLS.. now there was multiple offers and she is very ex[pericned at this and usually will land the deals.And even if you don't get your deals on MLS if your in the flipping to retail bizz your going to sell your home on MLS.. so being an agent to list your own deals is critical in my mind and anyone who does not control their own listings and sales side as a flipper builder is really just giving money away and not in control.now that's in the state I live in.. in other states I hire brokers..

You need to remember that real estate markets are designed to cater to retail buyers.