Would be great to connect at some point and talk shop!

If you don't any good groups to join, consider looking up other BP members in your area and networking with them, meet over coffee, etc. maybe you and a few others can start a REIA group locally. https://www.biggerpockets.com/meetGood luck

Shop around for the best lender for your needs.Good luck and let me know if I can help.

Volunteer the house as a project for a local high school shop class to come and work on the house, you supply the material they supply the students to do the work. 

My office is in Lynn and if you wanted to get together for coffee and talk investing I would be happy to do so.

We attend the christening or first birthday party if invited.We give gift cards for the Holidays.We help decorate for the Holidays and contribute to community potlucks/BBQs (at our 8-plex).We have a "make it your own home" policy, whereby we give approval for a reasonable modification to the property, such as painting a room, changing out a light fixture, etc.We prepare a "move-in packet" which includes information to orient them to the property (property rules, utility contact information, change of address form, our contact information, etc. ) and also information about the neighborhood, such as a walking/trail map of the local area, chamber of commerce welcome information, a list of nearby amenities (including medical, shopping, restaurants, schools, parks), menus for local pizza delivery services, coupons for local businesses, etc.We prepare a "move-in gift" which consists of a bucket of our favorite cleaning supplies and a reusable shopping bag with starter supplies of paper products, a "Zip-It" hair snare for clearing sink drains, a toilet plunger, a cutting board, approved hanging devices (picture hooks), a door mat and a shoe tray.We supply light bulbs for all permanent light fixtures for the duration of the tenancy, including specialty bulbs for appliances and chandeliers.

Location is obviously key if you are looking at other areas (closeness to station, shopping, schools) etc.In addition, in more rural areas, people tend to rent units for families rather than for single occupants.Last, I hear it is really a nightmare to attract tenants.

A small group of 36 homes one block from the the main promenade area where all festivals, good resturants, farmers market, coffee shops are located.

Ok, I'm just a little bit confused about exactly what insurance I need. After scrounging through the rental property book and online, I think I ingested too much information and need some clarity.So I'm in the process...

Give up on REI and apply at Starbucks, because some one's got to make my coffee.