In researching places with favorable price-to-rent ratios, Pittsburgh emerged as a potential candidate.

My company was just offered very favorable terms by a private lender.

From what we gathered, auctions aren't really a favorable deal to do for HMLs.

Integrity and reputation are critical.A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

Cycles are influenced less by local economic trends and more by massive, macroeconomic forces (fed policy, secondary market for mortgages, etc.)There are long-term issues both in favor and working against real estate investment.

If you are looking at SFR investing you will likely be buying in your own name anyway due to the favorable terms.I'd go with @Al Williamson on this one, get in and do stuff.

Maybe having an in person bidding process to eliminate the real estate industry from the HUD biding would be better to favor investors. 

Be sure your partner has 'skin in the game' (aka also has a portion of the investment).Family members, especially those without a portion of the investment, a very frequently POOR managers or partners, after all "I'm doing him a favor and can't spend all day as his slave". 

If you can manage to hold your assets for longer than a year you can get a much more favorable tax rate.If you ever need CPA's, attorneys, etc. let me know and I can point you in the right direction.Happy hunting,- James

Asking $100k, I offered $105k with favorable seller carry terms.  11 unit park with 3 abandoned homes and the rest tenant owned.