Just remember: most negative reviews are written by problematic tenants.

So, in places where single family residences get into negative cash flow you can feel stuck after acquiring your first multifamily (1-4 units).One of My recommended strategies: House Hacking for Complete Noobs.1st Property: Buy a cash flowing Multifamily using an FHA loan 3.5% down.

The cure to both - the 4 ions: education, action, progress(ion), not perfection".Learn to use BP to its whole potential:Subscribe to BP blog and podcasts and start reading posts and listening to their podcasts collection.Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: http://www.biggerpockets.com/m...Set up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/a...Read Beginner’s Guide: Real-estate-investing (http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investing) + Actionable-steps-to- reach-investing-goals (https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/12/17/actionable-steps-reach-investing-goals)You can find a glossary of some acronyms here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/...You might also want to read: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide - https://assets2.biggerpockets.......actually the entire section on Guides - https://www.biggerpockets.com/...BP has a whole section dedicated to education and starting up - https://www.biggerpockets.com/...Get busy with the entire Education section on BP:property-types (https://www.biggerpockets.com/hubs/property-types)finance (https://www.biggerpockets.com/hubs/finance)strategy (https://www.biggerpockets.com/hubs/strategy)analyze-deals (https://www.biggerpockets.com/hubs/finding-deals/analyze-deals)property-management (https://www.biggerpockets.com/hubs/property-management) (including TENANTS MAINTENANCE)business-operations (https://www.biggerpockets.com/hubs/business-operations) (and the sub section on REAL ESTATE MARKETING TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY TAXES & ACCOUNTING LEGAL TEAM)One way or another you will pay your "real estate tuition" - either in time, effort or money.

Dennis, thank you for your time and education I will research what you have shared and sorry you had a negative experience financially with out of area...I understand it's quite possible. 

But going too far on the cheap end of the market is simply asking for tenant turnover and unexpected repairs, all of which cost money, and negate one of the main benefits turnkey property in the first place, which is to be more passive in the investment’s management. 4.

However, the market would suggest that we will continue to see appreciation here and you can find property with a slight cashflow, cashflow neutral or slightly negative and just hold while rents increase, property values increase, and let inflation do its thing. 

I have 3 doors and I only gross 1200 a month.

The question I have is when I bought the home I only lived in it for 1 1/2 to 2 years before I got permanently stationed somewhere else, during these last 8 years I have rented it out and have not lived in it, will I have to pay capital gains tax seeing how I didn’t live in for the last 2 out of 5 years or am I protected because I had official orders and had no choice?

We REALLY like the home and its location.We rent the house out with negative cashflow (about $200 which is very minimal impact to us).

Yes but, often the properties require so much work they aren't worth buying or they are in an area that either has zero/ negative appreciation or they are in less than desirable areas.