From what I’ve read in Forbes, the Southeast and Midwest are still seeing strong rental demand because of affordability and population growth.

It's the only that I can affordable How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

You could probably afford $20,000 without much impact on your budget.

You can increase returns with leverage (that is a mortgage) or with value add (renovations, additions etc).I think cap rates (rents minus expenses divided by purchase price) on commercial and industrial is higher with less work involved, but its more expensive than I can afford--so I know next to nothing about that land.

Still decently affordable. 

This is simply my personal choice and I can afford it.

Single family has more stabilized as there is not enough people who can afford homes.The purchaser is two very distinct types of groups who buy MF vs. single family and single family is bought to own and occupy, MF is bought to generate money.

In Houston, you can either invest locally or explore strong Texas markets like San Antonio (affordable duplexes, strong job market), DFW suburbs (duplex-friendly zoning, growing economy), or Houston suburbs (Spring, Cypress, The Woodlands for good schools and tenant demand).

And if you really want to maximize returns, focus on properties in appreciating areas where demand is strong.I might be a little biased, but Branson is an ideal market for this—affordable homes, steady appreciation, and the option to flip, hold as a long-term rental, or even turn it into an STR.

Budget Bytes is another solid blog with affordable, healthy meal ideas.By the way, I saw that you're in rental property investing.