My company has non real estate (automotive related) operations in CHA/ATL/DFW/TPA/NSH/PHX, but I have family in Nashville and have grown to love Florida in my travels.  

If using a lender this is a non issue.

I stumbled upon Bigger Pockets recently and have been listening to the podcast non-stop ever since!

We've been eying restaurants, especially QSR's but what we've been finding is that these are commanding a premium (especially if they're corporate tenants, not franchisees) and come with fairly low CAP rates and the ability to negotiate the prices is almost non-existent.

Also, depends on how much equity you have in the house or is it really required if you have a non-recourse loan with low equity?

I've been taking a real estate investment course available through my public library and the low rates of success for renters was presented as a way in which this is a solid investment strategy.

Any way you look at it, if you dont plan on living there, it's a non owner occupied property and lenders will consider it an "investment" property.

It is a non-cash loss!

Non-flood zone.

Non-flood zone.