Here's some guidance on buying your first investment property in Southern California or Columbus, Ohio:Down payment:For investment properties, lenders typically require 15-30% down payment on your first investment15% down is possible with excellent credit (700+ score)20-25% down is more common, especially for multi-unit propertiesSection 8 considerations:Pros:Guaranteed portion of rent from governmentPotential for longer-term tenantsMay be easier to fill vacancies in some areasCons:More paperwork and inspections requiredRent amounts set by local housing authorityPotential property damage concernsOther tips:Research local markets carefully - price trends, rental rates, etc.Factor in all costs - taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacanciesConsider starting with a single-family home or small multi-unitBuild a team - real estate agent, property manager, contractorsHave cash reserves beyond just the down paymentUnderstand landlord-tenant laws in your chosen locationI'd recommend talking to local real estate agents in both areas to get more specific market insights.

We bought properties in some of the nicest areas in town, focused on appreciation, and houses that just didn't need much from us because they are in excellent condition.

I advise clients not to solely rely on AirDNA data for performance analysis as there can be some variation based on amenities such as hot tubs, premium decor and design and general operational excellence. 

That is excellent advice.

Reputation Most lenders that I work with have excellent and honest reviews on Google.

If you want to append phone numbers and email addresses to existing databases and Excel sheets you really need to know a lot about how to change records from Excel to comma-delimited files and then how to change the comma-delimited back to Excel.

@Dan Stelmach first of all congratulations on your excellent investment.

I am thinking this is the play... sit back and collect the rent two weeks early from the seemingly excellent tenants. 

I do not break them down into categories, however I explain what work was done in the memo line so if I want to know later I can print the report and add to an Excel spreadsheet.Attached are screenshots of a sold property.

@Gino Barbaro has an excellent education and coaching program.