So, here's my situation: I'm 23 and eager to dive into the world of investing.

Last thing you want to do is get too deep somewhere with your time and money only to realize the STR laws are not friendly.

I informed her the same day that when I put out my garbage a man went dumpster diving as no garbage was left in the home. 

I'm browsing online listings and want to understand how to dissect these deals before diving in.

I will deep clean the property and lightly stage it before the appraiser comes.

. 🏠👍 100% agreed.I've witnessed way to many investors over the years getting caught with their pants down when using too much leverage.The real estate "guru" world is incentivized by selling more properties (Realtors earn commissions on every property sold) and "no money or low money" strategies (Easy way to flog books and seminars), etc...So leverage to the tilt they would say...The best deals are bought quickly and with cash.All good things take time and so does building a strong and sustainable real estate portfolio.Start slow and small and build the foundation of your portfolio with cash.This will minimize losses when vacancies occur and one hopefully won't have to put their hand too deep in their own pocket to cover expenses as they occur (Especially large expenses like mortgage costs).Once a solid foundation has been built and experience gained over a period of time of what the true income vs expenses will be, then look at using leverage.Also, all deals should be analyzed from a "devils advocate" standpoint and don't get too excited about it's initial prospects.If you think it won't happen to, I'm here to tell you that it will.This is coming from someone that has done hundreds of deals and has seen it all.Always protect the bottom line first and foremost.Much success

I just feel like going deep into rabbit holes like this aren't worth my time and effort tbh.

When I dreamed of affluence circa 1991, it included the obligatory hot car (that I can buy a few times over now), lots of cheap women throwing themselves at me (my body would end up weighed down so deep in the Mon they'd never find it, I married a dangerous woman), and a lot of expensive stuff (me, a student of minimalism today).It also occurred to me that if my wife and I had kids, there was no way we could have asked them in 2017 to move into a leaking shack on the edge of a heroin ghetto, where a dude got shot just walking home in the alley out back in 2018, where the school system was ranked about as low as you can get for southwestern Pennsylvania (which is really saying something).

I tried the 350 doors of section 8 deep south stuff that is way too much for me and sold out years ago.. talk about a job holy cow.. :)

I’m new to the community and am eager to dive into discussions, answer questions, and maybe even share a joke or two along the way.