Starting out I would look for a place to live - as a field sales manager back then I drove around many communities in the Orlando area I lived in a 2-bedroom apartment and I was looking to lease option a house that I wanted to live in.

At various times throughout the summer, the tenants and their parents have made trips to the property to drop off furniture, clothes, etc. and each time have called to voice their displeasure in the state of the property e.g. the bathroom is completely unusable (even though I have stated numerous times the renovations that I would be making and the date that it would be ready by).

A lot of forum members are very knowledgeable in their respective fields related to real estate investing, whether that is real estate sales, wholesaling, flipping, rentals, lending, self-directed IRA and Solo 401k investing, or tax and legal guidance.Discounts on some products and services are offered to BP members: https://www.biggerpockets.com/perks/proIf you haven’t been to it already, you might want to check out the BP blog: https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/The site has quite a few tools that can be helpful for new members.

I've read numerous books and have listened to many podcasts.

If you don't have experience in the construction field then I would recommend always having your contractor walk the property before signing on the dotted line, even if permits were pulled.

@Kenneth LaVoie is an expert on building efficiency and has taken advantage of Efficiency Maine's numerous rebate programs to keep the winter out of his multifamily units.I personally have separated all the heating systems in my units, mostly with Rinnais, but you can get away with that in the Midcoast more so than other Maine towns where the expectation is that heat will be included in the rent.

I am a new investor and I have found numerous rentals in good condition, with long term renters already established (one in particular has had renters for 18 and 9 years), cash flowing anywhere from $400-$700 a month (including factoring in CapEx - 5%, anticipated repairs - 5%, property management - 10%, and a mortgage). 

A lot of forum members are very knowledgeable in their respective fields related to real estate investing, whether that is real estate sales, wholesaling, flipping, rentals, lending, self-directed IRA and Solo 401k investing, or tax and legal guidance.The site has quite a few tools that can be helpful for new members.

I agree with Caleb on numerous fronts. 

There is good and bad, honest and dishonest in every field.