Which ever market you choose build a team and spend time connecting, networking.

The Left must resist the urge to “help” with short-sighted, counter-productive policies like rent control.

@Isadore Nelson yes, I know someone that recently paid $500k to get a longtime rent controlled tenant out of a Carroll Gardens Brownstone.

@Maria Jeanette Using a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) for real estate investment offers control over asset selection and tax advantages, such as tax-deferred growth (Traditional IRA) or tax-free growth (Roth IRA).

I can pretty much guarantee that you will loose WAY more money trying to get out of the lease then you will spending the extra hundred dollars or so to paint an additional room or two.

You might spend between $5,000 and $20,000 on furnishing the unit, depending on your choices.

Research competition  and determine their profitability and how much they spend on marketing, how many employees they need, and how much time the wholesaler needs to devote to the business.  

Check out The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods before spending any money on a Cleveland rental property.

For me, real estate was a means to an end...so that I could spend all my professional time doing what I love: helping people and renovating properties.  

Practically speaking, it’s going to be quite challenging unless you spend significant time.