A small multifamily property is a smart choice for a first investment—it offers a great balance of income potential and manageable scale for someone new to the space.Don’t worry about being ambitious; it’s clear you’ve done your homework, and you’re already ahead of the game by setting a clear goal.

For what you are trying to achieve you'll want to stick to the suburbs and a few choice neighborhoods on the West Side of the city.

Lenders will want to know if the property is generating income and if it qualifies for a DSCR loan or traditional financing.

Emphasize how this arrangement could work to their benefit, offering steady income, avoiding a traditional sale process, and giving them the freedom to move forward with their plans such as buying that sailboat and sailing around the world.If they ultimately decide they’re not interested in selling, you’re still in a great position to continue your search and buy your own property in the near future.

TX market has been a popular choice for those seeking higher appreciation.

Asking them implies they have a choice.

Going through my real estate journey I have learned a lot, I am 24, a veteran and a graduate from Temple University,I started with aspirations of investing on a property and making a quick flip.My problem lied with fear of failing, my capital and my savings.I decided I wanted to learn the real estate market and know the ins and outs before I would make a bold choice on buying my first real estate home.

You don't have to fit into a traditional "avatar" box to bring valuable insight, so don't sell yourself short. :)This is especially true if you rely on furnishedfinder.com as your primary lead source (which you shouldn't, but that's another post) as when you make that connection with a prospective resident, you are selling yourself as a landlord as much as you are the property as a place to live.

@Saul Vargas, to piggyback off others, sourcing a traditional SFH rental that meets your underwriting criteria will be complex due to interest rates and market conditions.

If you want better cash flow, 35805, 35810, 35816, and 35811 are likely the choices.