It was our primary a few years ago and we decided to sell so we could escape the capital gains tax.

If you can hold off for 2-3 years to save more and build a solid emergency fund, it may give you greater financial flexibility when you’re ready to buy.If buying now feels too risky, consider renting for a while to gain privacy without the long-term commitment of a mortgage.

2️⃣ Property Tax Deduction: Claim up to $10K for state & local taxes.3️⃣ Capital Gains Exclusion: Sell your home?

Short term gains using it equals long term cost.

This will lower interest costs and free up future cash flow for reinvestment or reserves.Tax Planning: Work with a CPA to mitigate tax impacts from principal-heavy payments and potential gains.

What education should i gain before purchasing my first rental property?

This offsets your mortgage and builds equity while you gain experience with lower risk.Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): REITs let you invest in real estate without directly managing property.

If you have lived in the property for two out of the previous five years you could qualify for the 121 exclusion, where you get the first $250k ($500k if married) of the gain tax free.

They don't care about the cash-flow, The write-off's are profitable and there looking at the out-sized equitable gains. 

I agree with Afra at that price point it's best to start with flips that have $15K - $30K rehab budget to gain some experience and get a good team in place and then work your way up to larger rehabs with higher ARVs!