To be fair, that vetting should be done even for local investing, but it's a lot easier to do locally than 1000 miles away.The podcasts are incredible value if anyone wants to know, lots of great info there from people who are doing the RE thing successfully everyday.Based on the various strategies I've heard on the podcasts, I've decided to keep learning and maybe even give CA investing another chance.

They say because I have good "credit score" over 740 (from educating myself and having a "currrent" copy of my credit report) I have a very low "debt to income ratio income" (from educating myself to know what that means) and I have a great job (last three pay periods of pay stubs and last 3 months of bank statements last two/three years of tax returns) and from what I have seen on the internet and been told by others I can afford a "total" mortgage payment of $1500.00 a month of course this includes taxes, mip, home owners insurance, HOA and such (again educating your self using online tools available at a host of places).

I have a great credit score, ~$20k available in the bank, a well paying salary job, currently renting at $950/m.Option 1: Buy a duplex in SD county, live in half and rent the other half.

It may depend on region (and that my day job isn't lucrative), but where I am hiring people is incredibly expensive.

@Liam Goble That was an incredible Buddha like response.

There are some incredible opportunities in Detroit if you are familiar with the neighborhoods and knowledgeable about future developments.  

My credit score is good and the lender I’m working with has told me that I can probably get a loan for around 175k max.My education and other relevant life experiences: I graduated in 2013 from a university in Wales, UK with a degree in motorcycle engineering.

My tenants has good job, and "ceiling high" credit score... not sure what is the problem.

I feel incredibly lucky to live between Alaska, which is glorious in its own right, and this province.

I will be buying my actual score next month.