Quote from @Brendan Jones: When it's a home you intend to live in, I lean towards focusing on what you want, then making it work as best you can as a short-term rental.

This 16-acre mixed-use community bridges Downtown Gastonia and the historic Loray Mill District, creating a vibrant live/work/play corridor.⚾ Franklin Yards-Gastonia- A $26M, 5,000-seat multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue, with future plans for residential, retail, and office spaces.🍽 Food Hall-Gastonia-Gaston County’s first food hall is in the works!

I would suggest focusing on solving people's problems more than trying to sell them.

Can try to reposition to Class B, but neighborhood may impede these efforts.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620 (approaching 22% probability of default), many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years.

Trade schools and community colleges would be ecstatic for this, and if done it would be the "skills revolution" that the industrial revolution was. 

Hey Rafael, as someone who's been investing in Florida for 20 years, especially in Tampa, I'd say you can’t go wrong with focusing on this market—it’s got strong appreciation, great rental demand, and tax-friendly opportunities.

Quote from @Andrew Schaff: Hello BiggerPockets community!

I am currently in the planning phase of my real estate investment journey and had a few questions I’d like to ask someone more experienced.Would it be smarter to focus on paying down my own mortgage and then use a HELOC as a down payment for my first investment property, or should I simply use my savings for the down payment instead?

High-end properties might require a white-glove approach with customized services, while more modest properties may prioritize affordability and efficient communication.

If you want to only do PM I'd recommend just looking on LinkedIn, or Indeed and applying for local apartment communities.