The huge amount of logistics employment here is a huge driver to a stable rental community that a lot of investors have been turned on to.

But the other side of the coin your expenses go way up when your employer is now not paying you any bene's and you have to pay all your own health retirement self employment tax AMT tax etc etc. trying to do this with max leverage is going to be a long slog to replace a 150 to 200k a year job with bene's.

Dave Ramsey talked a lot about budgeting and when self-employed you’re pulling your business up by the boot straps. initially there’s nothing reliable.

The first rehab he led turned out nice, but at times was rough because we have a different relationship than most employee/employer.  

Low crime, steady employment opportunities in the surrounding areas as well as Appleton. 

Your strategy takes advantage of your employment cash flow and ability to control discretionary spending.  

I then look at area vacancies, economic conditions, employment opportunities, area demographics and verify that the property has not been red tagged or have any other underlying problems that might make it difficult to resell or rent.When I have my financial information then I can consider debt service and costs related to equity partners in the overall income produced.

If your student loans are only 3-5% interest, that's pretty good so I think it's okay to pay those off over time.It sounds like you're making good income with your current employer and there is room to grow, so I'd plan to stay with that job until you can pay your high interest loans off and save enough for a down payment for your first property.

To be more specific about what i'm looking to do: My 1-2 year goal is to employ the BRRRR strategy with SFHs and Condos by buying distressed / highly undervalued properties that need work (preferably all-cash) in low crime areas with strong rental demand, renovate them within budget (again preferably all-cash) and get them rent ready before refinancing them at the highest ARV possible.

Self employed is a costly endeavor.