@Zack Eastwood, you already have a leg up over others since you are a single-family home investor.

I see you're located in Iowa, are you investing in your area or how far are you going out? 

Am I a hypocrite or what?

Read my post on “Anyone investing in Iowa”.  

.- With my next property, if I buy a property in Iowa for example with FHA, I have to live in it for a year before I can rent it, is that same for every state?

This may have some legs, Account Closed.

The classes are more for the protection of you as a worker, than protection to a homeowner that might have a boiler pipe that needs mending.I would speak to your local CARPENTER UNION representative in IOWA.

I'm a newbie getting into real estate investing in Des Moines, IA.

Know what your lender will and won't approve in terms of fixers, also understand that people like Graham are making quick close cash offers with minimal contingencies which gives them a leg up. 

I just wanted to hear about other Investors opinion is over this topic and how they cover their properties without taking an arm and a leg.