That way, when a deal pops up you can confidently say that the numbers work after plugging it into your pre-made excel model.

Just curious on how things went for you and if you had any "tips" on selecting a brokerage from your experience?

Excellent work!

Here are some recent ones:  https://www.biggerpockets.com/...https://www.biggerpockets.com/...For us, we selected TenantCloud for our property management software, based on evaluations we did a few years ago, and they have done well, except for a few unresolved bugs, but there are many others that have popped up in recent years.

If you have excellent credit, you may be able to get a deal, but there also my be some creative ways to get your first property.I am president of a Baltimore area REIA, so take that in to consideration when I tell you that you should join one or more groups and make connections that can help you get a better idea of what is happening in the market from people who have been investing for many years.

Andrew Weiner at USA Property Management in Beachwood is an excellent resource for all your property management needs in this market.

I'm wanting something along the same lines and am interviewing with Barry Aldridge with Realty One Group Select. 100% commission and I've heard a lot of good things about them.

Maybe there's another way (or better way) to do that in excel (and maybe not).

I would focus on cash flow and select a rental property where there is a margin of safety between what your mortgage payment is and the estimated rental rate.  

@Marc Winter Amazing how fragile our rights are and how easily a governor can completely invade a business contract and so selectively take revenue away.........gas companies and grocery stores don't lose-yet land lords do.