@Serge Hounkponou Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Without the upside of a good neighborhood and/or quality property, I don't love it. 

.• Use some equity from the sale to make this transition smoother.I’m torn between maintaining our current home as an asset and buying  a new smaller house to use as a rental after we move back in versus simplifying and focusing on a single upgraded property Considering factors like market trends, potential equity growth, and quality of life, which path do you think would be most beneficial?

The quality of available tenant varies drastically depending on the neighborhood.

@Joe Gellenbeck Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

You want the highest quality tenant as possible & those two intangibles we find makes a difference. 

I have a second condo property where the water quality became unacceptable (PFAS) so I put a filter on the sink and make people aware the fridge water no longer works.

The success of your cold call (or any marketing) campaign depends on  the quality  of  data (leads)  that you are using.

I know this is an unpopular opinion around here that you won’t see on the front page of the daily BiggerPockets newsletter, but it’s the truth For the record, I still believe a quality STR purchase offers a great ROI over the long term.  

Sounds to me like you’re commenting on how the quality of the course is without having seen it.