It is a beautiful place I bought a few years ago and want to invest in the basement to then flip the building.

It's only natural because the market took off like a rocket, and people became "rich" with equity. 

Of course we'll have to go through municipality zoning processes, but that's the nature of what we do. 

A local condo that you can easily check on might be a good way to learn the ropes of being a landlord without adding the complexity of long-distance management.Out-of-state investing, especially in areas prone to natural disasters like hurricanes, comes with additional risks.

Always check flood maps and factor in flood insurance if needed.Historic Homes: Bay City has many beautiful historic homes.

With several hiking trails/boats/kayaks/bicycles/etc, and just nature in general, what do most people do protect themselves from potential issues?

The beauty is, YOU are in control. 

It's random, and those were just the people that I happened to meet over a couple of hours (and I'm not naturally extroverted).

@Amit M. what do you think of this beauty?

Oh and the original Incumbent tenant dies of natural causes in the unit one month prior to closing in June which delayed it again.Needless to say...