Same can be said for property managers.Make a trip out of visiting a few cities on your list.

Outside SCRA, what other trip-wires or cause for concerns should I be looking for?   

@Wei Mai All good points here, I would highly recommend making a trip to Cleveland or any area you're looking to invest in, and speaking with local investors about their experiences, neighborhoods of interest, etc.

I am actively looking for deals (fix and flips) in the area and have a trip planned Oct 17th.

So brandon's initial 83k loan actually included the purchase price, the closing costs AND some rehab costs.Brandon ended up paying 35k for the rehab when you count the vegas vacation he splurged on for the first craigslist contractor.But basically, had brandon refi'd the house for the full 108k the lender would have loaned, here is how his numbers would have looked.70k purchase2k closing costs on purchase35k rehab and vegas trip (11k of this came from his original 83k loan, the remaining 24k came out of brandon's pocket)Had he refi'd for 108k, the original 83k loan would be paid off as part of the refi closing.

"tax deduction trip" to check on properties also

But it seems all it take is one bad one and they want put me under the bus.

I have received the following msg from my PM:"We have experienced our fuse box trip twice while no one is home- with little to nothing turned on.

Take a trip to the county courthouse and look up where the tax bill is mailed for the property.

I am planning a trip out that way in the summer and would like talk to you over the phone and perhaps meet you once I am out that way.