First-time homebuyer-level SFHs are such a sweet spot for liquidity and demand, especially when the market gets tight.Quick question—when you're doing the homework for a potential deal, what's your go-to checklist for deciding if it’s a flip or a hold?

You are in a good spot in Columbus to invest in Alabama and GA.

Once you know that, you'll be able to spot one that might have a better return than 'normal'.

Use your superior knowledge, experience and analytical ability to spot something in a property being offered for sale that everyone else has missed.  

I agree with Collin.The Smokies do have a lot of competition, so you need to have a view, decent location, good to great amenities etc to stand out.We have a 6-bedroom cabin there, but I imagine a 3 to 4 bedroom would be in the sweet spot of not too big or not too small.

But if you know any other resources or great spots to get started, please share them! 

And you can determine the sweet spot for pricing your place based on comparable properties that are your competition."

Your approach here has definitely given me a lot to think about in terms of spotting hidden value.Curious, with the deferred maintenance challenges you faced, was there anything unexpected that came up during the rehab that you’d approach differently next time?

@Bruce Lynn is spot on.

With a 3-5% down FHA loan, I snagged a cozy home in a hot spot, worked from home to play handyman, and created a hedge against the "what-ifs" of life.