The biggest red flag is if they start asking for payments on the front end of the deal.

But these things always get posted up here on BiggerPockets, waving a red flag of fear and anger in front of us to drum up support for state and local landlord associations.

Looking for Rockstar Contractors in Calgary and Red Deer.Please let me know if you have any recommendations for:-Painters-Floor Installers-Electricians-Plumbers-General HandymenAny recommendation is greatly appreciated.Cheers!

Usually, landlords enjoy more favorable conditions in red (Republican) states and municipalities where laws are more landlord friendly - easier to evict, for example.

This may not apply in your case, but for many new investors they get so focused on how to become one that they ignore the red flag signs of where extra money has to go in, but they are also told that, as you said, by countless "experts" who aren't there to help them (you), they are there to sell you a class.

Best of luck to you out in beautiful Redding, CA!  

Conventional money is usually burdened with red tape and average pricing for investment properties at best.

This loan type does have a lot of red tape, but if you approach it methodically and get organized before making an offer, it's quite powerful for house hacking.

- any other major red flags that I see with the tenants and the property inhabitants in generalAll of those should be pretty easy to see even if you do not have much experience and your agent may even be able to fill in the gaps for you.

I think five is a great number that's big enough for a bigger player, but small enough to be approachable at that price point.