I am located in Greenville after a long brokerage and investing career in Silicon Valley - also spent ten years in Forest Hills Queens.Greenville is more of a capital growth market an appreciation market rather than a cash flow market.Clearly, investors want both cash flow and appreciation, but I have found the relative weighting given to either is a function of where an individual is at in his or her career, income level, and particular needs.I believe (my opinion and I understand others think differently) is that early on and into peak income years - the proper focus is on appreciation - growing that nest egg   long term - one has sufficient income and does not need income from RE to live.

First of all, there is no privacy unless you spend a lot of time, money, and headaches on business entities, trusts, and nesting. 

It is certainly a harsh climate for homes...but this spring, my door is open and my birds nests in my shutters are singing! 

We've never felt comfortable with these types of buildings, and all the convoluted regs, and the types of (sometimes) entitled, unappreciative tenants one tends to find inside these properties makes it hornet's nest of problems that simply aren't worth the trouble.I know that some are prepping a lawsuit, but I don't know much else.https://nypost.com/2019/06/24/landlord-groups-planning-lawsuit-over-new-ny-rent-law/

Many people don't understand this because they've been taught that retirement = nest egg, withdraw 4%, never work again, play golf.

@Michael Spindler I would keep on saving and probably wouldn't invest or otherwise put at risk any of that $5k you have until you have a more sizable nest egg. 

To top it off, the utilities are connected, so there is only 1 thermostat (in the main house), but the back house has window units and space heaters to regulate temp if needed (the front house is on a schedule and I have a Nest thermostat there that I can control if needed).  

In preference to holding off on the license and building a nest egg while furthering my education on investing in residential properties for a while?

In preference to holding off on the license and building a nest egg while furthering my education on investing in residential properties for a while?

. $150k-200k is a safe nest egg that can cover anything inspections may have missed.