The bad: i have not yet experienced a downside, just incidental stuff that happened mostly due to the neighborhood where the rental is located.

It's not that @Dawn Anastasi isn't right, because she is... but in our market, that would also get you started on a 2/1 SFH in an ok blue collar neighborhood that would turn about $600/$650 rent.

Also, for my first market I’d like to be able to visit it (investigate neighborhoods/properties, interview PMs, agents, etc) without incurring a huge cost.

Doing it as a owner-builder gave plenty of practical experience in managing a non-trivial construction process.Last year, we acquired one more condo in the neighborhood and have been gaining experience with land-lording as well.My background is in Computer Science and have been working full time as Software Engineer for about 20 years.I am interested in networking with fellow investors/tradesmen, especially who are active in our area (Culver City/West Los Angeles).Thanks and wish you all a very happy new year.Coty

However, it's in quiet residential neighborhood.

Me and @Nick Grisanti want to organize a Orlando / Central Florida meet up We are were thinking on 01/18/2014 a saturday at 2:00 pm we can have it at the Panera Bread of the Florida Mall 1117 Florida Mall Ave, Orlando, FL 32809 (407) 856-6706 We are open to suggestions and opinions.

There are better deals but in worse neighborhoods.

I checked the crime rate for the neighborhood and it is fairly low.

I'm looking to make my first purchase of a B&H SFR and I was browsing around Zillow in the neighborhood I used to live in.

I am able to search my local counties assessors data, county GIS, and find information about the neighborhood, comps, taxes, and such.