I don't love Belleville anecdotally or when I do some basic research.

What would you do in my shoes I don’t invest there so take this with a slight grain of salt but I’ve heard multiple stories of basically this exact scenario someone getting offered a big payday for something in Cumberland, rejecting it & always for some reason (house burned down, block got worse, sheetz decided they actually didn’t want someone’s land for a car wash after all) always selling for like 10-20k and regretting not selling. 

@Sarah Rilling - I always like having a 1:1 conversation with the potential coach/mentor to get a flavor for how they work with people.... basically to see if their is a connection.

I started working out a little and my left shoulder started giving me problems and I basically quit.  

That shows real estate can be possible for anyone; in my opinion, I know everyone has unique and challenging situations, but in principle, anyone who can follow some basic budget fundamentals can save up enough for a down payment.Grateful BiggerPockets continues to bring more people into the industry!

I would consider the returns you have now - then run a different scenario where you put that money in a basic S&P 500 tracker.

. - Lastly, the colors are basic and I think we're seeing a shift where buyers aren't just wanting the black/white kitchens anymore, maybe try to find some accent pieces you can add in for cheap.

1) lease to own - Basically arbitrage model but use option to protect investment. 

If it takes you two months two find a tenant willing to pay $1,700, then you'll still basically break even in the long run - the net to you is the same. 

Hello @Chris Atkins,To achieve and maintain financial independence, only invest in cities that meet the following requirements.Significant and Sustained Population Growth: Rental rates follow the basic principle of supply and demand.