We showed above how we got the 5.38% annual appreciation and we chose a more conservative number of 4.5% annual appreciation.One of the unique advantages of real estate investment is leveraged appreciation.

Locals were saying this is becoming a more common occurrence, and not good if the tourists can't go in the water.

The bottom line is that whatever method you choose, there has got to be a more efficient way to go about finding leads than simply cold calling OOS investors by the thousands.

Rather than waiting for a "home run," think about beginning with a more cautious transaction, getting real-world experience, and then progressively growing your portfolio.You can employ house hacking as a strategy since you qualify for a VA loan.

I'm not the best at math so am using, what I think, is a more common sense approach, but seemed to make sense to me.

High Maintenance Costs: Escalating maintenance costs can erode your profit margins.Change in Neighborhood Dynamics: Shifts in the neighborhood that negatively affect your property’s value are a red flag.Better Investment Opportunities: Selling might be wise if you've identified a more lucrative investment opportunity.Cash Flow Necessities: If you need liquidity, selling a property can provide a significant cash inflow.Tax Implications: Sometimes, selling can be advantageous for tax reasons, especially if you can benefit from capital gains tax laws.Personal Financial Changes: Changes in your personal financial situation may necessitate liquidating assets.Retirement Planning: Selling investment properties can be part of transitioning into retirement.Portfolio Diversification: Selling might be necessary to avoid overconcentration in real estate.Legal or Regulatory Changes: New laws or regulations can impact the attractiveness of holding onto a property.Ownership Challenges: If the burden of ownership outweighs the benefits, it may be time to sell.Real Estate Market Trends: Anticipating a downturn in the market can be a reason to sell early.Interest Rates: Rising interest rates can reduce the pool of potential buyers and lower property values.Property Value Appreciation: If your property has appreciated significantly, taking profits might be smart.Lifestyle Changes: Sometimes, personal life changes dictate a shift in investment strategies.ConclusionDeciding to sell an investment property is a complex decision influenced by market conditions, personal circumstances, and future investment goals.

We aim to start with flipping houses to build capital for more significant future investments.The high cost of properties in Sydney is challenging ($2M), so we are considering exploring a more distant but cheaper market.Is it a reasonable strategy for first-time investors?

Maybe a more realistic goal is to start by earning your first $100,000 or $1m and then reevaluate.

@Maria PutnamI wouldn't start with a private lender... since it's your first investment I don't think it's fair to put their money at risk.I'd just save up enough until you can get a more standard hard money loan.

I think a more ambitious strategy would be to "flood the zone with value" - specifically, pick a few listings in the geography you are interested in that are being mismanaged and propose your plan to that owner just as an ice breaker.