Specifically I  (with my husband and business partner and two little girls)  am on the path to early retirement through my business and interested in the buy and hold strategyIt kind of feels like a needle in a hay stack to me right now - as I am not familiar with areas etcI would love to know about challenges others may have had trying to do this, tips We are happy to come over and do some boots on the ground searching, living in areas etc as opposed to buying sight unseen, but obviously flipping etc is not on the cards for us. 

Surrounding neighborhood homes (not condos) of same 3 bed/2 bath and size (1948 sqft) are in the 250-310k range.Original list price: 239k; Current list price: 225k (110 days on market); Possible purchase price: 210k but let's use 220k for the numbers.Purchase: 220k20% conventional loan, down payment: $44k + closing costs = $48,400Monthly principle & interest payment: $840Property taxes: $250HOA: $185 - covers all exterior, pool, and landscaping.Insurance: $60Total monthly expenses: $1,335Estimated rent is $1,600 (maybe higher).

When do you quit making payments and start skimming the rent after realizing you're not making your principle back let alone your interest revenue. 

Buying sight-unseen is a serious gamble. 

Of course you need to be in the right market for that, but that’s completely achievable.Set your sights on a specific market and learn all about it.

For me, the combination of principle and interest is always important.

I bought a house as my principle residence back 2003.

In 1910, Akron was the fastest-growing city in America, with no end in sight.

Bandit signs (crackdown), direct mailers, cold call, warm call, direct email, social media... the gurus promising how to get everyone that wants or needs fast to your sight and I have 1 conclusion...

(I know, you are all already going rookie mistake, hind sight I assure you)  So, now I have someone living in my house and I am about to file bankruptcy (CHP 7) and have no money to pay for an eviction.