In my opinion there’s not much difference investing 2 hours away vs 25 hours away - you should have your systems in place and treat it as a business so you don’t have to go and constantly check up on them.If you’re looking for good cash flow and appreciation, Columbus Ohio is a good option.

. $100K income in Lousiana shouldn't be treated the same as $100K in NY or the SFO bay area. 

(If it is listed, treat it like any real estate purchase.) 

Hi Michayla,First step is go visit Aunties Father with the dog (all clean and nice and a kerchief around the neck), bring a box of milk bones and go there and sit with him for a while and see if he likes the dog.Give him the box of treats and encourage him to feed the dog (make friends with it).If he still says no, --cry-- and beg, please please....Tell him you won't be there forever, just a short time.If that doesn't work, offer him $50 a month cash for having to put up with the dog.If he says no keep upping it by $50 a month until he says yes...even if it's a Thousand Dollars (100  month, 150  a month, etc...)Then when (if ) he says yes to an amount....Tell him you can only afford $50 and that's what you will pay.and then TRY TO pay him on time...Come with $50 in your pocket and if he says yes, leave it with him to seal the deal.Then when you move in, have him walk the dog a few times and let him become friends with it.If the resident on the lease currently says no dog inside, it's no dog inside.If you are on the lease, I suppose you could force the situation on your roommates--talk to the apartment manger about this though.All the manager can do is NOT prevent the dog inside if you are legitimate with you emotional support claim.

Why are landlords being treated differently? 

@Caroline Moore Multifamily properties with 4 or less units are treated as residential properties and are typically evaluated using comps.

The negotiation and seller you're dealing is not treating you well.  

Don't get me wrong, he is still well above average as an agent, but I struggle with the agent who treats my transactions as just one of a zillion, instead of making sure all I's are dotted and T's are crossed-- just my preference anyway.The other issue playing into this is how much real estate has been glamourized. 

I just want to be treated fairly, but the landlord and property management company is pushing an arrangement on us without us being in agreement.Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

In fact, I'd think most tenants would treat this as an afterthought, if they pay attention to it at all.