It took some investigative work, but we were able to PROVE the owners and extended family were residing there.

My thinking here is first you do a Thorough investigation of what renovation / repairs are necessary and then invite the well-established conbtractors to bid.And then you finalize a list of repairs with details, schedule, ….

Don't miss The BiggerPockets Podcast - they are great for learning how others are finding success.Oh - and be sure to set up some Keyword Alerts- especially for "Hawthorne" so you'll be notified when people mention it here in the forums.Thanks again for introducing yourself!

I would also recommend setting up your Keyword Alerts and begin to connect with some fellow members.

Peter Lynch, the superstar money manager, said, “Know what you’re investing in and why.†To find the answer to WHY you are investing in a deal, you need to investigate and research your reasoning.Value investors that invest in niche tenant bases need to research to find the best tenant base to target.

I would suggest that you investigate and learn using truly self-directed option where you act as a trustee of the plan.

Ethan,Coming from a newbie 8 months in, at least investigate all options.

If you haven't yet- be sure to setup some "Keyword Alerts" to get into conversation in your target area.Seeya around!

Be very careful to investigate your neighborhoods. 

There are definitely gems on both sides you will be able to find something profitable with some investigation.