Heck, fixed annuities and agency debt are paying over 5% fixed, so if you really want to sleep well at night that is an option as well.Also, I have found that the landlord/tenant relationship is generally better with short term rentals than long term rentals.

@Todd Fullerlove Love that you're looking to develop relationships with local, community banks in Knoxville.

Fortunately this isn't a situation that has impacted my relationship with this particular tenant.

If interest rates come down, then we should see more demand for homes, which will increase prices, and have a modest dampening effect on rent growth. 

Those agents have their ego at the expense of the relationship, and there are such agents actively participating in this thread.

He is a realtor that I previously purchased a small portfolio from and therefore had a good professional relationship.

You’re able to learn the basics of a real estate investment with lower risk and build equity at the same time.Because you're in the military, you'll be able to enter a property with 0% down which means you can leverage your money way more effectively. 

I had a “lender” tell me he’d give me a personal loan with a fixed 4% rate on a 30 year term at whatever amount I wanted because he would like to “build a relationship” with me. 

By exploring options for cost-effective utility usage, such as installing low-flow fixtures and implementing irrigation systems, we can significantly save on water expenses.To keep things running like a well-oiled machine, you’ve got to have a rock-solid asset management plan.

If you can make some relationships prior to that with agents in the area who do what you want to, you can find yourself on a team or at a strong brokerage that matches what you want to do.