Fantastic to hear that you were able to navigate the challenging purchase.

Purchase price: $355,500 Cash invested: $75,000 Rental Property near community college What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

I created an electronic google doc time tracker: Time LogContemporaneous time log of rental real estate activitiesActivity DescriptionTenant recruitmentTenant screeningNegotiating and executing leasesOverseeing repairs and maintenanceCommunications with tenants and vendorsTravel timeResearch for potential rental real estate (pub 925)Acquiring rental real estate (pub 925)Paperwork/bookkeeping/bankingResearch and purchase of materialsRent collectionEvictionOn-site cleaningBill paymentOther:Time SpentDateMM/DD/YYYYSubmit

I recently purchased a second foreclosure property, another condo on the east side, and am looking forward to flipping this one. 

When we moved, we turned it into a rental, hoping this would be the start of our real estate journey—something we’d like to continue once my husband retires.Some key details:My husband is active duty and will retire in 3 years.We have one final move coming up this summer to Raleigh, NC.Our current debts are crippling us—the high interest makes it tough to stay afloat every month.The plan me and my husband are thinking bout:Sell the rental property.Use the proceeds to pay off all our debts, set aside emergency funds and a down payment for our next home.Free up $1,500/month from debt payments, and that also can stash in a high-yield savings account.Regain full VA loan entitlement, allowing us to purchase a multifamily home and use the house hacking strategy for up coming move.Avoid capital gains tax, since April marks five years of ownership, and the tenant’s lease ends in May.This wasn’t our original plan, and we hate the idea of using our equity to pay off debt.

I've not yet invested in my first property, but I plan to purchase my first one by the end of 2023.

I think if you just attend any group, you'll find investors that purchase remote and local and you'll be able to learn.

If this effort gains traction, it could fundamentally reshape the U.S. mortgage market, impacting financing options for real estate investors nationwide.The Role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in Housing FinanceFannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) are government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that purchase mortgages from banks and lenders, package them into mortgage-backed securities (MBS), and sell them to investors.

What this leads to is higher purchase prices but also higher rents in these areas. 

I have a followup question - I will realize a lot of capital gain from this home in Idaho, so I think unless I purchase a new primary residence I will have to pay that capital gains tax.