This is one of my favorite features of Bigger Pockets especially for asking specific questions.

I am still a newbie to real estate investing and I just moved to the US 4 years ago so I don't really know all the hot spots.

You are in the right spot to meet like minded folks for sure.

Majority of investors fail in this space by getting burnt by contractors and being taken advantage of.I think you guys are in a great spot to start flipping more homes and being able to "GC" your flips and taking a step back from the manual labor.

Enjoy your favorite beverage on the patio as you view the beautiful Catalina mountains.

Neighborhoods such as Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, etc. are good starting points. (2) I'd say the sweet spot is 2-3 units, to limit your net outgoing < $3.5k.

He paid the security deposit, pet deposit, and the first months rent right there on the spot, so everything seemed like it was working out.We started the lease in November 2012, which was stressful enough, however, the lease took us through December 2013 so we figured this was no big deal.

Rob's comments are spot-on. 

Other items to look at include: hot water heater, plumbing, electrical, roof, siding, and the sub floor (look for soft spots).Hope that helps! 

My cpa hasn't responded to me yet...but i know the collective minds here are usually spot on.