Hi @Erin KilloughWhen it comes to picking the area you want to invest in something I would recommend for you is this website.https://www.areavibes.com/Use this rating and classification system I have created over time to get an idea of the "Class" for the area - A class B class & so onHere is my rating & classification for each livability score.80 and above A+78/79 A76/77 A-74/75 B+72/73 B70/71 B-68/69 C+66/67 C64/65 C-60/63 D59 and below F

You expect a long home search where the agent will have to schedule lots of showings for you, over a long period of time?

Upside: you have now a loan that is being paid down, equity that is growing, and probably some appreciation and you learn how to buy and manage real estate which in itself makes it worth it!

Take your time, do your research, save as much as you can.

I have been a long time reader absorbing everything I can.  

In my market, we still believe that welfare recipients shouldn't have nicer housing than people that work full-time, so Section 8 pays less than what I can get on the open market.

The previous leasing company confirmed the resident had paid their rent on time every time.

This is about the only time in my life where I will be able to save money without finantial burdens and I just dont want to screw it up.

I'm not sure how to articulate it but, basically this bit of knowledge saves me a bunch of time and kind of surprised it hasn't come up in any of the books, articles, or videos I've been learning from.

We recognize the value of your time.