I needed to get my feet wet in REI and set my criteria based on a low-mid range, new SFH with previous owners (to ensure minimal surprise issues) in a family-friendly area.

Whenever you are buying a property out of state you should do a few things to ensure it's as smooth as possible.Don't buy in the roughest neighborhood in the urban core.

I just want to ensure I am not being foolish for accepting $500 and just moving out as soon as possible.

Whenever you are buying a property out of state you should do a few things to ensure it's as smooth as possible.Don't buy in the roughest neighborhood in the urban core.

I suggest that you get with a local real estate attorney or REIA member for those forms to ensure they align with your state's requirements (if necessary).

I would encourage you to at least chat with an attorney to ensure that you create and operate the entity correctly, since the will be different annual requirements for LLCs between different states.

How would I ensure tenants don't secretly attempt to put stuff in the garage without my knowledge?

Whenever you are buying a property out of state you should do a few things to ensure it's as smooth as possible.Don't buy in the roughest neighborhood in the urban core.

Whenever you are buying a property out of state you should do a few things to ensure it's as smooth as possible.Don't buy in the roughest neighborhood in the urban core.

How can I ensure my PM is on top of it?