The real estate investing industry uses "Classes" to rank property performance risk, but there's NO agreed upon industry model:(Here's what we use for our Metro Detroit market:Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Here is my simple Top 5:1.Review the market – Understand the trends and conditions in the area.2.Analyze the property and the numbers – Ensure the deal makes financial sense.3.Visit the property – There’s no substitute for seeing it firsthand.4.Meet the team – Whether it’s your property manager, builder, or contractor, relationships matter.5.Complete inspections and appraisals – These protect you from costly surprises.If all these boxes are checked and the numbers work for your goals, then it’s likely a solid deal.

In the past year we've been through the ringer financially due to bad contractors, deal promises, and generally just being new to the game.

In our still relatively limited experience, seller financiers are usually looking to get a higher asking price in exchange for the favor of the private loan. 

You'll need more capital and most will require a personal guarantee and personal financial backing. 

There’s no reason to go through a disaster (I'm mid recovery myself) and not get the financial upside by becoming the developer and selling a finished product versus raw land.If you have to completely rebuild, it’s a two year process at minimum.

I feel like in today’s day in age there are so many tools for STR operations and I cannot believe there is no integration for a merchant of sale transaction or some kind of financial app/ software that can take the remitted taxes and pay them to the government automatically.

I’m determined to reach financial freedom from a W-2 job by Dec. 2034.

Quote from @Josh Lansberry: You will hear a lot of people bad-mouth him, but Dave Ramsey can teach you how to get financially savvy real quick.

I am financially free with ~$10-17k/mo cashflow.