As for the areas to target, my goal in getting our feet wet as real estate investors--and since we plan to be living in Sac--is to find a property we can live in while renting out one or more units to help cover our housing expenses, which we can then hold and continue to rent out when we move.

The provider I am using allows for 60 days of continued coverage once construction is completed.

I like this strategy and plan to continue. 

This can also bolster your case if the tenants continue to act in bad faith.

This trend has continued since 2024, and buyers absolutely love them.

For example we pay our own income taxes, broker splits and all of our other expenses directly out of what we make including required E&O insurance, MLS dues, licensing fees, Board of Realtor dues, continuing education costs, marketing, advertising, office fees/rent, transaction coordinator/ assistant fees, health insurance, car insurance and maintenance, gas, tires, software, retirement fund, etc.We are not W2 employees with payroll taxes already taken out of our paychecks, company-paid health insurance and matching retirement account plus a guarantee of at least 40 hours paid work per week, sick pay, paid vacation… none of that.So if you’re thinking you’ll be able to pay an hourly wage typical of a W2 hourly employee like $50-85/hr… that’s definitely not going to work.

However, if single-family homes prove financially viable, I’m happy to continue building in that niche.Since these homes and projects are significantly cheaper than my market, the risk is relatively lower for me and can do at least two at a time.The ChallengeOne of the biggest hurdles is finding reliable contractors and subcontractors in the area.

Use tools like:Airbnb Analytics: Monitor impressions, clicks, and overall CTR.IntelliHost: Analyze your listing for category placement and CTR improvements.RankBreeze: Track your listing's performance and ranking changes.You can also A/B test your photos by rotating lead images or running Meta Ads (Facebook/Instagram) or Google Ads to measure which photo drives the most engagement.The Airbnb algorithm is continuously evolving and every host should pay attention as new features are rolled out. 

Charlotte, NC, and its surrounding areas continue to offer exciting opportunities for real estate investors.

At one point I was told I could obtain funding (non-conforming was the term that was used) with 12 months of bank statements.My question is what would make me more appealing to a lender; should I continue with 1099 work or go to W2??