It's great to hear that you're interested in providing housing for fellow travel nurses - it sounds like a fantastic niche market.As you're getting started with acquiring rental properties, here are some steps you can take:To start real estate investing, educate yourself on various strategies, including analyzing deals, financing options, property management, and local market trends.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies when deciding whether to invest in-state or out-of-state.In-State Investing:Knowledge: You probably know more about the rules, legislation, and local market in your own state of Houston, Texas.Network: It's possible that you already know contractors, real estate agents, and other people in your community.The Ease of Management: Especially when dealing with daily problems, managing properties in your neighbourhood may be more convenient.Out-of-State Investing:diversity: If your local market is competitive, investing in a different state may offer greater prospects and diversity.Affordability: As you pointed out, certain states could have more reasonably priced real estate, which might enhance cash flow.Market Dynamics: There are markets with varying development potential and economic trends that you may access.Taking Out-of-State Investing Into Account:Investigate the target market in-depth, paying particular attention to employment growth, economic data, and local real estate market patterns.Establishing Networks: Establish a local network of contractors, property managers, and real estate experts.

Consider factors such as the property price and financing, income and expenses, cash flow and return on investment (ROI), market trends and demand, future appreciation and exit strategy, and seek professional guidance.

You can see this as Market Supply matches a similar trend to Listing Inventory, indicating that the buyer’s remain constant despite the lack of inventory and fluctuation of pricing.

Market Inventory does not see much fluctuation even with the annual trends of the real estate market.

I removed Airbnb from this Google Trends search because it depressed all the other searches because it is most popular in Hawaii.

However, we are coming off a dozen years with crazy RE appreciation   That trend is unlikely to continue unabated   We could enter a low appreciation or depreciation RE period.  

Conduct thorough market research to comprehend the potential real estate markets, considering aspects like employment growth, population trends, rental demand, property values, neighborhoods, schools, and local laws.

Illegal immigration can impact labor markets and economic dynamics, its direct influence on commercial real estate is intertwined with broader economic trends, government policies, and market conditions.

Degrees in finance or economics offer a solid basis in investment techniques, market trends, and financial analysis.