Hi Penny i'm actually an investor that resides in Odessa as well and my realtor actually just sold a duplex recently and in that area they have several occupied duplexes and some for sale.

On the other hand, several states require a license to make business-purpose loans.

Several years prior to Covid I got my finances in order to start investing.

The home doesn’t burn but the surrounding neighborhoods and town does, severely decreasing the value of our home3.

I say "may" because while I have read about this in several places, I have not personally verified this to be true.I usually pay contractors by check the minute the work is finished and approved.  

Buying OOS just adds several layers of risk for most people and most places. 

We recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

I didn't know at the time of purchase, but it can be a deal breaker (from what I've been told by several contractors) on putting up recessed lighting.

Several economic factors are contributing to this shift:Overbuilding: Some areas of Charlotte have seen significant overdevelopment, leading to an oversupply of rental units.Tighter Money: Rising interest rates and economic uncertainty have made tenants more cautious with their spending.Tenant Behavior: Many responsible renters are choosing to stay put rather than take on the cost and hassle of moving.What Does This Mean for Landlords?

So, your focus may need to pivot from high rental cash flow to little to no cash flow as a rental with an appreciation upside.I would recommend taking your $150K to $200K and securing a solid equity position in something that will cover its expenses and maybe provide a small cash flow, but then is poised to appreciate nicely over the course of the next several years.