I have not set my profile up yet as I have an active situation going on that’s time  sensitive .

There are probably seasoned investors who can figure out creative ways to make most any deal work but my feeling is that new investors should be more selective about the deals they choose to take on since they have less experience in mitigating risk and estimating costs beforehand.I'm actively looking for my first property and one of my criteria is that I will only buy a house that needs mainly cosmetic updates and even then within certain limits.

I plan to be more active on these forums so hope that will help out too. 

Still very active and to get the information you need I would need price point, number of units, timing, your experinc.

This will allow you to actively monitor and run your investment without having to actually be at your investment.  

@Christine Krizenesky  My partner and I do active deal making as well as buy and hold investments.

I am 26 years old and an Active Duty member of the Navy currently living overseas.

@Kelly Jacobsson I'm quite active in the Knoxville Market...

That's great, except for the competition.It's a little farther away, but I think a lot fewer Boston people are trying to buy properties in Smithfield, Scituate, Johnston or Coventry (just for a few examples).I'd also recommend attending local real estate groups that are active in the area you're thinking about investing in, for example in RI I know there's one group that meets monthly in Warwick.Attend a group like that and make it a goal to meet (best) or talk to on the phone (less desirable but still good) investors who are local to the areas you're looking to invest in (not out of state as you'll be).

If you excahnge  "No Luck affecting things either way" for "Bad Luck", you still make a profit because of the other elements in the formula.