Obviously a huge opportunity for a reliable and consistent renter. 

Learn how to consistently hit singles and doubles over a long period of time.

@William Vreeland, Nashville to Knoxville is a 3 hr drive, so unless you family is consistently in Knoxville, I am not sure how having family in one city is beneficial to investing in another.  

But beyond that, Texas offers consistent population growth and strong job markets, which create ongoing demand for housing and commercial spaces.

Best advice is to keep exploring aspects of the RE investing world and decide which feels right and best for what you want to pursue.

(Less risk, more consistent cash flow, etc). 

We still own property in Texas, and the pricing here for renovation and maintenance is consistently 1.8-2x what we pay in Houston and Central TX. 

Be consistent with your lead generation efforts.

You can control a lot of aspects of the loan including LTV, length, type, and where to deploy the funds (BRRRR, flip, new construction).

I'm new to Bigger Pockets and have been immersing myself in the podcast and studying various aspects of real estate investing—from market analysis to financing—for the past two months.