However, that interferes with my ability to ask the right questions.

Investment properties" are any properties that you take your money and your credit ability to purchase and try to make money. 

However, the ability to write off the cost of improvements is tempting, right?

@Matthew RiberaThe biggest gift you will give your children is their ability to achieve on their own.

Tenant forgot to cut grass before leaving out of area I get a bill, Tenant car broke down and is in the yard while he works on it I get a bill, you get the point. 

Once you have this team in place, you should be able to confidently invest in any market.As for picking a specific market - I would go after one with an increasing job and population growth.

When planning the growth of a portfolio: 1st SFH in year one, 2 small MF units in year two, 6 doors in year 3, refinance part of the portfolio etc.7.

They are that you have the ability to purchase their property so what that means is proof of funds, whether bank letter or liquid funds, and experience to handle the transaction in a seamless manner without hiccups.

This would free up my FHA ability and I will have the need to relocate in 12-24 months so I would likely do FHA first purchase (after selling) and then conventional.

*Lebanon - This town was known as a bad town for a while but has seen tremendous growth in the last few years.