On finding an agent, you make a completely valid point about the top producing agents.

Did you lie to the mortgage co and produce a “bogus” lease in order to obtain financing?  

Join a hugh producing team.

I found a property in my area that would produce decent cash flow and appreciation; however, I would have to use funds from a HELOC on a different rental property for the down payment.

But when it comes to choosing or creating investments that will produce a return along with personal fulfillment or enjoyment, then I say it definitely matters what you invest in and where you invest.  

If you love property management and want to start a business keep looking into it.Otherwise keep buying income producing properties to generate wealth.

From the Great Recession to Q1 2022 it was easy to find RE that seemed very likely to produce outstanding return. 

🌟 December 2024 Top ROI ZIP, 28262 🌟For the first time ever, only one zip code produced an ROI of 7% or higher!!

A and B neighborhoods typically don’t produce much cash flow and are more of an appreciation play—something the city has been seeing quite a bit of over the past decade.

If you are using STR, REPS, or self rental with material participation to convert to active or nonpassive income, you do not have to do this if you have passive business invesment that produce passive income that will exceed the loss generated by depreciation.