@Loan NguyenRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

With $50k, you might be able to get started using an FHA loan, which typically requires a lower down payment, as long as you’re planning to occupy the property.

But you have to understand the seller is taking on a significant risk of having someone else run the property and not knowing if they will get the final payout.If you are getting typical rates, why would you not just buy the property outright with 20% down and obtain mortgage financing from a lender?

It is typical for them to be bad.

Rates are typically higher than a traditional cash out refinance, however at least you are not getting the full loan amount + you have the flexibility to draw/tap in the money whenever needed.

What are the average utility costs, and who typically pays them (tenant/owner)?

Here’s what I do with my rentals:I either have tenants split the utility bills or include a clause in the lease that states if the gas or water bill exceeds a specific amount ($X), the tenant will be responsible for the overage, provided there are no leaks or other infrastructure issues contributing to the high usage.To determine this $X amount:Water: I take the highest water bill I’ve had over the past year (excluding periods where leaks occurred) and add about $15 to account for small fluctuations or potential increases.Gas: For gas, I calculate the median bill during the winter (when usage is highest) and the median bill in the summer (when usage is typically lowest).

You are not far away but with the down payment and budget, that would put you in some rougher areas which typically have higher turn over or more up front capx.

My wife of 20 yrs is currently pregnant with our first child and I want to get us out of debt and build our savings.

@Mike TikhRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?