Austin is an appreciation play but Columbus (can be) a cash flow town.

E.x. if you already own the land..a joint venture will likely be available.I highly recommend the urban land institute and a book called "real estate development work book and manual" by Howard Zuckerman as a place to get started.City and Counties do play but most often with some sort of tax incentive.  

Read his book, play his cashflow and stop right there!

It will help to have a script/questions sheet ready for when you DO talk to these sellers.

I love the idea of succeeding in real estate so that I have more time to play guitar! 

I've seen quite a few posts on here lately asking what the "script" should be when you're talking to a potential motivated seller on the phone. 

If you play the Cashflow 101 game on a regular basis, it may help.

You are an investor so Dodd Frank is not even in play.

But if you get caught there will be consequences.  1031's come into play when you sell a rental and buy another one.

It's a nice physical break from playing on the ipad all day...Of course I love all the strategy involved with the financing, acquisition, and development associated with bringing a newly acquired property to its highest and best use.