@Paulo AscurraIt depend on your comfort level with investing remotely - some folks like to be able to reach out and touch their properties and whether you intend to go-it alone or find local partners where you invest.While I still follow certain areas around MTL (I use to live in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and on the island (st-denis) many, many, years ago), like much of Southern Ontario, it has been quite some time since I have come across a deal which be sufficient reward for dancing with Le Regie or the Landlord and Tenant Board.

@Sabrina Trotter - I recommend getting additional quotes if you don't feel comfortable with the price you are being quoted by any of the contractors you are working with.

The hardmoney guy I use now for my flips does this but I am not really comfortable asking him all the details of his business since I would be a minor competitor of his.I have everything else pretty much in order.

The market being crazy was a factor but also I feel that I got "comfortable" and stopped the prospecting train.Coach.me charges me around $60 a month and she checks in with me everyday to make sure I did my time block.  

If you have the proper tools in place to where you can feel comfortable making a purchase knowing it will one day be in someone else's control, I'd go for it.

If you don't feel comfortable going into this much debt, you could look at using $200,000 of the $300,000 and acquiring two $400,000 homes with $100,000 down on each, and still have the $100,000 left for "sleep well" funds.

As far as where to invest, you have to go where you are comfortable with prices.  

Then if you are comfortable with them start talking about being a private lender on one of their houses.  

I suggest meeting with an attorney that you're comfortable with in case you need to evict.

It gives me comfort to have an expert who is up on tax code and then to have myself as a checking point for them.