One of these opportunities I have been considering is investing in businesses like laundromats, as they supposedly can produce substantial cash flows (according to an investor I’ve spoken).

Holding costs have risen substantially over the last year.- it appears there is at least some non-conforming space.  

With a duplex, you can do STR, MTR, or long term rental on the unit you don't occupy and those options might give you a substantial boost in CASH FLOW.Yeah living in that duplex might not be as nice as that newly constructed SFH but the VERY small sacrifice now will pay HUGE dividend down the road.  

@Mike DymskiI'm OK with reduced cash flow on a rental, and a "high" mortgage rate, as long as ( 1 ) I get a substantial amount of equity on the buy, and ( 2 ) the rate is fixed. 

Can you find a deal that will substantially reduce your housing costs?

The cost will go up substantially if you decide to expand the building footprint and roof.

Effective management is key to maintaining and increasing the value of your investment.Step 7: Building a PortfolioAs you gain experience, consider diversifying your investment portfolio across different types of properties and markets to spread risk and increase potential returns.Mitigating Risks in Real Estate InvestmentWhile real estate offers substantial rewards, it's not without its risks.

First, even an STR that isn't rental arbitrage may in some cases be reported on a Schedule C rather than a Schedule E depending on whether you provide "substantial service".In the case of rental arbitrage, I believe the best and arguably only acceptable choice is Schedule C. 

I think the best deals will be had by people with good contractors that can handle the substantial rehabs. 

Multiple, billion dollar companies are investing substantial amounts of money into our area, such as Intel, Google, and Amazon.