I've spent many months in the Birgmingham area during work trips to Hoover.

Also, if you do NOT report your "incentives", you can have the IRS on you, and your "manager" could very well be considered an "employee", even if he trips up the stairs and knocks out his own teeth...showing YOUR room for rent.

While Union township property taxes are high I am very comfortable investing in Union as schools are good, strong community town, very good mix of SF and MF homes as well as bus and train friendly commute to NYC.

My general suggestion for any out of state or long distance properties is to take a trip out there and go drive some of the neighborhoods to get a better feel for the area.

I typically like using a hotel card and taking a trip or two nearly expense free at the end of a long renovation.

If on a slab, make a larger platform maybe so not such a 'thronie' trip/hanging hazard .

This particular incident happened in a red state.IN GENERAL: Ill probably regret posting this and don't trip on my soap box....With all due respect, Blue cities actually significantly contribute to entitlement thinking bc the laws so greatly benefit the tenants rather than the landlords. 

A weekend trip could affect your target neighborhoods, offer prices, and more importantly strengthen relationships with boots on the ground. 

I would like to invest in cleveland OH, I will be taking a trip to Cleveland next month.

Also go with one trip units.