HI @James TobinAs you get into the RE market, regardless of where you choose use this website as a good starting point to find out what the areas are likehttps://www.areavibes.com/Best of luck from Fort Worth 

Huge markup.Most people choose to do things the easy way.

In the end it is about your risk tolerance. 

Our end goal is to be in a position where we can be very selective and choose the clients and properties we work with so that doesn't happen.

If you decide to exit real estate entirely, just make sure whatever investment path you choose aligns with your goals and risk tolerance.

@Tatum Littleton, I appreciate your welcome and reassurance that we are choosing a good starting place. 

Whatever you choose make sure to read the ENTIRE fine print of the policy.

People are not choosing the cheapest housing available.

It does however give you a degree of independence to choose what you want to do.As your portfolio grows you'll also feel the weight of future capex responsibility more, which ironically points you to growing more cash flow through more real estate.The other issue is that you are chasing a moving goalpost.

Vanessa, If you choose the seller financed route, you could potentially continue investing under the bank's stringent debt-to-income radar, so to speak.