Was using Google voice,  got a call to look at a property, and when I showed up there was a Code Enforcement vehicle full of my signs at the curb and an Officer with a $500 ticket.

Its a 13 hour drive and $400-600 plane ticket depending on the date.

I really want to buy around the world plane tickets for our family and spend a year living out of backpacks but a small voice tells me I should invest and wait until we build some passive income. :-) I'm spending every free moment educating myself because soon that 45 day clock will be clicking before we need to indentify a new property.  

Either more frequent smaller damage, or outlier big ticket damage?

Here is the GOLDEN TICKET.

I love BP, but most people write in about their successes and not about what can go wrong very quickly.I started investing in Chicago because it's much cheaper than the New York market, but although property costs less I have a lot more expenses as far as plane tickets, time off from my day job, landscaping, snow shoveling, property management and paying repairmen higher prices for emergency fixes.  

There's a lot of stress in a first deal and trust issues from dealing with your agent, banker and lawyer for the first time I know it seems really easy and I know I've bought properties without seeing them but only after having a couple deals under my belt and doing it for a while If I were you I'd buy a ticket and close your deal in person

I convinced myself real estate was my ticket out and began researching and studying relentlessly.

I've seen it before, usually for larger ticket repairs.

. -$400 (not bad)-$1,000++Any big ticket items.... like A/C, water lines, electric issues, etc.?