Thanks for the tip. 

And finally, any tips, tricks, opinions, or any comments about this would be incredibly appreciated. 

Great first step to learning and investing.Consider developing your profile a bit, it helps other get to know you.Other tips, I highly recommend BP's Ultimate Beginner's Guide, it helps to form a general foundation in the industry.

I was hoping to get some advice from the experience veterans on here about tips on buying a first home, things to look out for, some hidden costs or expenses that I wont see until its too late, anything along those lines!

Ok, now that you have taken your initial step, below are some quick links to get engaged.http://www.biggerpockets.com/starthere http://www.biggerpockets.com/ubg http://www.biggerpockets.com/meet Setting up Keyword Alerts How to Use @Mentions on BiggerPockets 25 Tips for Real Estate SuccessREI can be very daunting, but, before you go searching for that 1st buy, please take a few minutes to bone up on the tips in link below.http://www.realestate.com/advice/buying-your-first-investment-property/ However, this site thrives on interactions and as such we encourage two way exchanges and look forward to educational and thought provoking ideas relevant to REI.

Originally posted by @Carolina E.

any tips, i mean should we always lock the front door behind us during showings, even 'open' houses?

Tell your renters to pay by E-transfer, that is what all of my 6 guests do. 

Holt Thanks for your e-mail.The version of SB 695 that passed the Senate exempts unpaid bills owed by tenants.Sincerely,David

Thanks for the tips