Without knowing any of your financial position of your work or side hustles it is hard to give you exact advice because you may be able to carry these homes until they are paid off and in that case they would provide solid returns, but there are likely better real estate investments out there.  

I’ve been working probate leads here in San Diego for some time and your words are right on point…lot of time for sometimes little to no return. 

@Tove Fox - Residential Real Estate InvestingPros:Lower Entry Costs: Easier to get started with less capital required.High Demand: People always need homes, making demand relatively stable.Easier Financing: Mortgages are generally easier to secure with favorable terms.Simplicity: Easier to understand and manage, especially for beginners.Flexibility: You can use it as a personal residence or rent it out.Cons:Tenant Turnover: More frequent turnover leads to vacancy and more management.Lower Cash Flow: Income potential can be modest compared to commercial properties.Emotional Buyers: Residential prices can be influenced by emotions, leading to price volatility.Maintenance Burden: Landlords often deal with repairs and maintenance, which can be time-consuming.Commercial Real Estate InvestingPros:Higher Income Potential: Stronger cash flow and higher returns are common.Long-Term Leases: Tenants often sign longer leases (3-10 years), reducing vacancy risk.Professional Tenants: Business tenants tend to take better care of the property.Valuation Based on Income: Prices are based on the income the property generates, not market emotions.Shared Costs: Tenants often cover property expenses like taxes, insurance, and maintenance (via triple-net leases).Cons:High Entry Costs: Requires more capital or partnerships to get started.Complex Management: More expertise is needed; you may need a professional property manager.Economic Sensitivity: Commercial properties are more sensitive to economic conditions.Challenging Financing: Securing financing can be harder, with stricter terms and higher interest rates.Zoning and Legalities: More complex regulations compared to residential properties.Key Differences:Risk: Residential tends to be lower risk, while commercial offers higher rewards but with greater risk.Management: Residential is easier for DIY investors, while commercial properties usually require a team.Scalability: Commercial properties are easier to scale, offering more potential for significant cash flow increases.

@Jeremy H.there is no need to self manage for the passive investor looking for a fixed NNN return in the 15%+ range.Smart business owners and retirees looking to diversify their investment portfolio are not looking to run a hospitality business. 

What I take some issue with is the techniques that guru's use to up sell and so on .. and they do nothing to qualify if the person paying them if the program does not work they are now into debt to the eyeballs and so on but then again who are we to say at some point.. think of  Hewlet and Packard they went into 15k worth of debt to start HP in late 40s or early 50s and that was a ton of money then :)

If you want to learn more about the markets in Memphis, Dallas, Houston, Little Rock, OKC, Tulsa or various locations in AL, I would be happy to share what I know about those locations and what types of price points and returns you may be able to find on quality rental properties!

I sat out the boom bust since 2008 and focused on returning to full health after a spine injury.

Because you are forcing equity into the house you are sometimes able to pull back out the entire purchase and rehab process to return to your investor then you own the home with just the mortgage.

Awesome and as far as tax deductions do you still do them to get a return or do you only do those so you don’t get taxed on your rental income 

It’s a way to earn solid returns without the day-to-day work.