Congrats!!! I hope you have better luck than I have, oh yeah you don't have to sell first. This is my advise: location, location, location. Make sure it is in an area that people want to move into. Sounds basic but when you go to sell and move up to bigger and better things you'll understand. Owning is much better than renting! Except when you find your water heater, roof or basement leaking (for me it is the water heater right now
). Good luck!!!
Newt