Hello Everyone,I'm a newbie and excited to start buying properties.

My experience with the buy-and-hold strategy in real estate has been successful, as my tenant's rent covers all expenses.

The downside of selling will also be that our expenses will go up by buying a new home as well, and we aren't very high income earners (we both make a little over $100k/year combined)We also own a few small rental properties in smaller towns nearby in TX, so the rental game isn't new to us!

If you can submit plans, likely sealed by an architect or engineer, and get the official approval before buying, that would be safest.  

Locking up properties that will be hard to sell are a punch in the gut for the sellers so you have to step back and think, are these worth locking up or would the seller be best served listing with a local agent and getting out, without you in the middle.It sounds like these are ancillary to your territory and usual buy box and that usually means you don't need them.

I have had 6 people sign paperwork to buy the home over the last few months, but even the cash offers have pulled out when they see the price of Homeowners insurance in Louisiana right now.

Buying from a distance is certainly challenging but don't hold this experience against the entire turnkey model.

I knew nothing about real estate or investing except that I should buy property and hold onto it.

Would I buy another one if I could in this very same area, I ABSOLUTELY would if it cash-flowed like my existing property. 

I am about to buy my first rental in Baltimore metro area.