Depends how you define success @Kelly Lund.

Whatever you are afraid of, define it.

With that being said, when I first started I started I was looking around the Atlanta area and couldn't find anything that meet my criteria (specifically my bottom line) so I started looking elsewhere in the metro area and ended up down in Macon, Ga.So long story short, invest your time in yourself, find your niche (you already know), define your investment criteria, network with like minded investors and most importantly is to pull the trigger when YOU are ready and the investment meets your criteria whatever that may be.Best of luck and if you have any additional questions please feel free to PM me at anytime and utilize the knowledge of others on the site.

@Pascal Arthis Start by clearly defining your goals and objectives and then decide which is the best market for you.

If you are defining "all in" cost, you need to add land and soft cost to the analysis.

Hello Everyone,Bottom line up front: What advice do you have in regards to determining when you "know enough" to get started?I like to think that I am a pretty thorough person by nature. I have always been a curious p...

“Drug-related illegal activity” means the illegal manufacture, sale, distribution, purchase, USE, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell distribute, or USE of a controlled substance (as defined in Section 102 or the Controlled Substance Act (21 U.S.C. 8002) or possession of drug paraphernalia.2.Resident, any member of the resident’s household or guest or other person under the resident’s control shall not engage in any act intended to facilitate illegal activity, including drug-related illegal activity, on or near the said premises.3.Resident or members of the household will not permit the dwelling to be used for, or to facilitate illegal activity, including drug-related illegal activity, regardless of whether the individual engaging in such activity is a member of the household.4.Resident or members of the household will not engage in the manufacture, sale or distribution of illegal drugs at any locations, whether on or near the dwelling unit premises, or otherwise.5.Resident, any members of the resident’s household, or a guest or other person under the resident’s control shall not engage in acts of violence, or threats of violence, including but not limited to the unlawful discharge of firearms, prostitution, criminal street gang activity, intimidation, or any other breach of the housing agreement that the other wise jeopardizes the health safety or welfare of the landlord, his agents, or tenants.6.VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE PROVISIONS SHALL BE A MATERIAL VIOLATION OF THE HOUSING AGREEMENT AND GOOD CAUSE FOR TEMINATION OF TENANCY.

I would add it comes down to your goals, and how you define success criteria for investments.  

If the difference between cost and FMV is pretty big and they tack on extra anyway, well then that's just greedy, and you don't want greed to be the defining characteristic of someone you're going to be partnering with for 10+ years.I suppose in markets with rapid inflation, like Southern California, such pricing might make some sense, but I'd still be wary - even in the priciest markets like CA, NY, HI, further appreciation isn't guaranteed, so paying extra in anticipation of increasing values seems...iffy.

(Seriously, who defines "vacant" and who is recording this info in a timely manner?)