A good property manager can handle tenant issues and reduce your hands-on involvement.Building a Network: While you don’t currently have local connections, networking with other investors, attending real estate meetups, or joining online communities can provide valuable insights and opportunities.The next steps depend on your financing options, preferred markets, and whether you’re willing to manage tenants directly or prefer to stay hands-off.

This strategy can help reduce utility expenses.Mid-term and short-term rentals can have utility costs up to 10% of gross income, including electricity, water, gas, cable, lawn care, and pest control.

Same as if it was bank-financed.However, make sure that you can in fact reduce your taxes by rental losses.

Here are some thoughts on your plan: Cost Savings: Doing the majority of the renovations yourself can significantly reduce costs.

But such things as I've stated above (and a whole lot more that would require I write a book) will greatly reduce the likelihood of a bad rental outcome.

Alternatively, negotiate a credit at closing for the roof cost, reducing the purchase price, or arrange seller financing for the roof.

This will reduce your footprint and units.  .5 acres is a really small footprint. 

This loss will be active and therefore reduce my W2 active income taxes.

A fridge keeps food fresh longer, a car saves time by reducing the need to walk everywhere, and buying a house ensures your money doesn’t simply expire like rent.But as investors, we’re aiming for something bigger.

Get a reduced prepay in case the market does goes lower to protect yourself.