I have done my due diligence and have found a property that meet my criteria.

My niece told me that most of the time it was fun and she enjoyed meeting new people and what not. 

I am thinking of doing a cash out refi on the rental to fully payoff my primary residence if it would be advantageous from a tax perspective (given the new tax law's higher standard deduction for schedule A, I may not qualify for itemized for W2 income).  

Brendan, I am not knowledgeable about FHA or conventional residential financing, but I think you need to meet your FHA obligation, which may involve living in it for at least a year, and the refi lender may want seasoning of 6-12 months.  

Currently I am trying to just get them to meet but they shut down the call after you mention anything about their home.

Start with your local REIA, meet other investors that are having success in the same niche that you're looking to get into, and soak up their knowledge and expertise.

Conservatively underwritten low double digit CoC and high teens IRR is standard. 

However, with a standard lease option, you purchase the home and then find someone who wants to rent-to-own.

Hi Derick, We are having an REI meet up tomorrow from 6-8pm at StarDust in Davenport, IA if you'd like to meet some investors in the area!

Hello Everyone, I am trying to meet with like minded investors who are new to Bigger Pockets so that we can learn together.