Rehabbing and holding for sale eats away at your profit forcing you to rent it and hold it for future earnings in my opinion.

Most of us could stand to work on our skills in presenting the spoken and written word - here's a great, easy to read book that my favorite real estate mentor suggested in the past - "Eats, Shoots, & Leaves" by Lynn Truss.

Has anyone gone down this track, of suffering the first few years, and then gaining a nice return, and how long do you estimate I'd need to eat ramon noodles for?

If you read elsewhere here (and you should) you'll find the "50% rule" that says expenses (taxes, insurance, utilities, HOA fees, vacancy, advertising, etc.) will eat up 50% of the rent.

You don't want to be "eating" too many two week vacancies.all cash

We eat off of Corelle and buy used cars.I fully expect to have turned over nearly all my wealth to my heirs well before I die.

Well owning rental property and being a landlord is like eating sushi.

That would eat up another 3-5k in closing costs.

Yes doing the work yourself is the long way, and holding costs can eat up any savings gained by doing it yourself, let alone you can't market for buyers or new properties if you are rehabbing, but I can understand you want to know the process for future investments.Do keep us informed of your progress!

I expect the way I eat those tasty wings, there is no way this stock is going to do poorly.Recommendation: Buy!