if there is someone who can build at a lower price in Columbus Ohio than us (my partner and I with both 10+ years of construction experience and I bid on a national scale) why not reach out and try.

Instead of jumping into an expensive Long Island market with negative cash flow, consider investing in a Texas market like San Antonio, Houston, or DFW suburbs—these areas offer strong rental demand, lower property taxes than NY, and better cash flow potential.

*I aim for a certain guest experience and keep occupancy lower to minimize wear-and-tear and respect my neighbors.

My cautionary tale for shopping lower and you need 100% clarity on what's covered and extra fees.

That rate will be lowered further to 40% in 2025, and 20% in 2026.

That will keep your out of pocket lower and your $70k would allow you to buy two properties.

As an agent, you can also represent yourself and put your commission toward the down payment, further lowering your out of pocket costs.

Also HELOC's typically have lower interest rates than personal loans since it is secured by your home.

It’s a lower risk strategy since you’ll be living in one of the units, and you’ll qualify for low down payment loans.

My goal is to diversify with an investment that generates steady cash flow, even if it requires a larger upfront investment and lower overall returns.