You can find decent SFHs in the $150k-$180k range that can cash flow if you buy right.The challenges?

Challenges?

@Chris Mahoo many new investors don't take the time to properly understand RE investing.1) Many are using approaches from 2010-2018 when Class A property prices were so low from the Great RE Crash that an investor could cashflow and get pretty easy Class A tenants to manage.2) If you look at what investors were doing before 2008-2010, most were buying Class B & C rentals.To make it worth while, an investor either needs to Fix & Flip or invest & hold rentals for 10+ years.- Over a 10 year period cashflow will increase as rents increase (rents typically rise faster than property taxes, insurance, etc.)- The property should be appreciating, if purchased in a good location, increasing the owner's equity/wealth.- Rents will be paying the mortgage off, increasing the owner's equity/wealth.- If you hold a rental until death, you can pass it on with a stepped-up cost basis, limiting captial gains if then sold (limited by inheritance tax limitations).Too many newbies on this site trying to replace their day job income via "passive" real estate investing w/o digging deep enough to understand how it really works.

Challenges?

Challenges?

If either of these homes has been your primwry for anywhere approaching a year.

Challenges?

It does not take that many hours to look at a property, sign a contract or even manage tenants.If you are bored in your 9-5 it's time to move on to a job where you learn and get challenged so you can grow.

A hybrid approach could also work—perhaps using a HELOC for reserves while saving the stock portfolio and 401k loan as backup options for future opportunities.

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?