Not to say that you can't jump to long distance investing right away but if you don't have any experience I would try to at least invest in one property within a 1-2 hour drive from where you live.

You've lived in the property for at least a year which is the expectation for FHA loans.

You would just open one in the state you live in (or the state you're investing in). 

You need to keep in mind the person that was living in your property is a seasoned lowlife.

There are other cash shortfalls that will come up, which you will need to cover, especially if your stretched at the very start.Work on your own living arrangements as your first investment. 

I live in AZ, left to live in CA for 14 years, then moved back in 2007. 

I have a tenant who has lived in our 4 plex for almost 15 years, long before my husband and I purchased it 6 years ago.

I currently live in Nashville TN.

The plan is to live in this house, leave for a month or two during peak season to travel and/or visit family and cash in on July-August STR income in Maine.

A full-time security guard might help eliminate this, however, for a property of this size, that is simply cost prohibitive.I’m wondering if the market is just tough for everyone right now, if we’re looking in the wrong places, or if our criteria are too tight for tenants willing to live in this class C- neighborhood.Would love to discuss/brainstorm this in more detail with anyone who has experience filling class C units in this downtown Phoenix market.