(First time home buyer) after months of settling in and updating the rental apt, we just put a tenant in the second unit this month. (10 months between purchase and rent income) we are getting $1300 per month for the 1 bedroom.

Families are the best tenants in your area-- most stable, mature, settled and usually 2 or 3 working adults with income.KEY: Make money the day you buy.Use an investor savvy realtor that you personally like and can build a relationship with.

I've taken a couple swings at the sheriff's sales, but every property I've shortlisted has redeemed or settled prior to auction. 

It's the responsibility of the executor/administrator to settle the estate.  

I ended up settling with CamCard.  

Do you see cracks, chips, peeling, rotted wood, rust, settling anywhere?

It appears it may have been passed down, co-owned, or settled when somebody passed away back in 2007.

These are not "How to" books exactly, but they are "How to Think" books.Also, keep an open mind on exactly what type of investing you settle into.  

My goal is to buy a single-family home in the near future and rent it out.After debating between a few cities, I think I have settled on Jacksonville.

Sometimes you have to go back and do some digging if they settle the property in an LLC so make sure the non-circumvent includes personally as well as any entity they may be part of no matter ownership percentage.