@Marduk MooshoolzadehI believe it is certainly attainable!

While I don't think it will be easy, I can't help but hear @Scott Trench's advice from Set For Life--"The benefit to performance-based pay is that earnings can theoretically be unlimited...if you want to have a shot at earning way more money or at achieving financial freedom early in life, you will likely have to give up a regular salary in a traditional career to attain it." 

I’m looking to attain rental properties and begin building assets for myself.

@Thomas WhittleseyHere is a resource that may help you with your searchIt's a spreadsheet that lists all the incorporated places over 10k in population contained within the East South Central and South Atlantic Divisions of the USA.Cities in South Comparison SpreadsheetI have ordered all the cities by median home values since you stated you are interested in properties under 100kI have also included the rent to price ratio for each area as well as two metrics that correlate with gentrification (educational attainment and poverty rate)Once you have filtered you search down to a few cities, I suggest looking into the sub markets for each of them. 

I'm located in Morris and Joliet is an easily attainable destination for me. 

@Troy EgarOne way of beginning to gain an understanding of your market it by looking at the relevant data.Data sources such as the American Community Survey, also known as the annual Census, can help you judge a location by considering key market indicators, which I list below.Some of the metrics that I find valuable to understand are:- Population Total- Population Age - Home Values- Household Incomes- Rental Vacancy Rate- Homeowner Vacancy Rate- Poverty Rate- Educational Attainment Rate (High School/GED & Bachelors)- Number of Housing Unit- Rent to Income Ratio- Rent to Price Ratio- Population on SNAPS (supplemental nutrition assistance program) percentage- Property Tax Rate- Median Age of Buildings- Number of Structures by Units (SFR, Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex, etc...)- Median Rents by Number of Bedrooms- Unemployment Rate- Employment Sectors Percentages- Number of Building Permits Issued- Foreclosure Rate- School Ratings- Crime Statistics Also take into consideration the direction in which each of these market indicators are trending.

I suggest targeting a few cities, which you can select by looking at the relevant data.Data sources such as the American Community Survey, also known as the annual Census, can help you judge a location by considering key market indicators, which I list below.Some of the metrics that I find valuable to understand are:- Population Total- Population Age - Home Values- Household Incomes- Rental Vacancy Rate- Homeowner Vacancy Rate- Poverty Rate- Educational Attainment Rate (High School/GED & Bachelors)- Number of Housing Unit- Rent to Income Ratio- Rent to Price Ratio- Population on SNAPS (supplemental nutrition assistance program) percentage- Property Tax Rate- Median Age of Buildings- Number of Structures by Units (SFR, Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex, etc...)- Median Rents by Number of Bedrooms- Unemployment Rate- Employment Sectors Percentages- Number of Building Permits Issued- Foreclosure Rate- School Ratings- Crime Statistics Also take into consideration the direction in which each of these market indicators are trending.

Sounds like you both are set on the right path - with attainable goals in mind.

Your goal is lofty but attainable. 

Some of the metrics that I find valuable to understand are:- Population Total- Population Age- Home Values- Household Incomes- Rental Vacancy Rate- Homeowner Vacancy Rate- Poverty Rate- Educational Attainment Rate (High School/GED & Bachelors)- Number of Housing Unit- Rent to Income Ratio- Rent to Price Ratio- Population on SNAPS (supplemental nutrition assistance program) percentage- Property Tax Rate- Median Age of Buildings- Number of Structures by Units (SFR, Duplex, Triplex, Quadplex, etc...)- Median Rents by Number of Bedrooms- Unemployment Rate- Employment Sectors Percentages- Number of Building Permits Issued- Foreclosure Rate- School Ratings- Crime StatisticsWhen you consider all the variables listed above you will be better able to judge a locations tenant quality.Also take into consideration the direction in which each of these market indicators are trending.