I start to look at different factors such as property tax rate, crime levels, rental rates, commute to work, whether the area is land lord friendly or renter friendly etc.

I am not sure how much money you have for a down payment or what type of loan you qualify for, but leaving cash in a deal isn't the end of the world if the numbers are right.The high level numbers look good.

@Trevor Stone You're exactly right, the my teammates and I spent together not only brought us closer but allowed us to perform at a higher level because we trusted each other. 

The type will depending on your entity setup, familiarity with accounting, interest level, etc.

@Gary Wildey There are numerous factors, and a huge one I would echo is what @Michael Dumler mentioned: if you don't have a team in ANY market (whether in market or OOS), it can add another level of difficult to your investment.  

It seems to me to be pretty risky for a newer investor, but I don't know your level of experience. 

Often porches above a certain height need balusters and rails and steps above a certain level need sturdy hand rails. 

.), try :STRATEGY: Start Up Guide to Short Term Rental Investing.This is a very intro level book with the background of how to get into Short Term Rentals. 

While I do ask questions about leins, ownership etc, I want to be able to have a high level of confidence that the property can actually close before I spend any money on inspections or appraisal etc and ensure that the closing duration is long enough for all this to properly happen. 

And those loans that you possibly could get without a job will require significant liquidity and net worth, on top of typically only being available at the $1mm loan balance level and up.As for buying a property cash, you could.