Make sure they have real estate experience as location is not an issue, most of us work remotely assisting RE investors with their tax planning.

I will be happy to share with you my experience in investments and property management. 

Good advice that lines up with my experience so far.  

In fact, I go with the highest deductible as possible and plan to only make a claim if something catastrophic happens.Duplexes (in my experience) rarely get broken into once occupied.

Thanks @Michael Plaks :If brought condo for STR purpose, almost end of the year say in Nov, also purchased all furnitures etc to make it ready for STR. what if it didn't get rented by end of the year, so :Total rented days in year = 0 Toal personl days stay at property  = 0 Does it still qualify for deductions(cost seggrigation, tax, closing cost etc for business use prep), similar to if it was rented (even if for couple days in a year) ?

with my commercial banks fico was not the driving factor it was experience collateral protection IE equity and Character with gov mit backed loans they could give a rip about character  its all about fico and DTI. 

Ask how many units they manage and how much experience they have.

So here’s my first purchase experience so far. 

Optimally, you want to be as close as possible to the property, or at least where they have experience in that area. 

I am open to different perspectives too, if someone has had a positive experience with smokers, I am all ears!