Unfortunately, I do own investment properties abroad that are still financed, so any lender that has experience with this would be much appreciated, the lack of experience in that regard has been a painful, and long underwriting process at first when I bought and then again when I refinanced my home a few years ago...

Let me explain that better, imagine your rehab is $100k, you would need to do part of the rehab, maybe $10k, and then you can get the funds for those first $10k reimbursed so you can keep progressing with the rehab.Given your experience, I would recommend you start with a moderate or light rehab, mostly cosmetic work so that you can do it yourself and won't get your profit decreased by hiring third parties.

So I guess I'm looking for help to tools to find the first one.

Purchase price: $250,000 This is my first home and it is also my first investment property.

I would recommend practicing with families first.

I remember the reports of the first cases coming out from Wuhan in December of 2019 ,and obviously since everyone knows there are only 4 comprehensive bio safety level four laboratories on the planet, Moscow, Paris, Fort Detrick-Maryland and of course Wuhan Institute of Virology, and given that there are over 100,000 small town with wet meat markets throughout China, one doesn't even have to ask the question "what are the odds?"

when investing I always look at school ratings, generally areas with good schools are lower crime, if you stick to those areas you're probably fine

If you can find a deal that is assumable (you take over the seller's interest rate), that would be ideal.

What's your strategy for buying your first rental property?

Check fb marketplace for the going rate.