I did not pay for the course or get any deeper because I figured 1) High return = high risk, and I am at a point where I can't afford to lose that kind of money; and 2) I didn’t see a value in a course- why not network with local investors who need down payment, and work it out directly on a deal that I could more easily underwrite?

I use the property myself, but if I couldn't afford to keep the place vacant all year long I'd have been in trouble. 

I can’t afford the $5/unit tier so maybe their support is better but our definitely sucks and definitely shows their internal teams are not on the same page, resulting in mixed messages constantly, sub par support and honestly a lot of gaslighting. 

@Matt Smith - as @Christopher S. mentioned you cannot use an ADU unit in Chicago as an AirBNB as the city's intent with the program is to provide additional affordable housing. 

Myrtle Beach area and clearwater florida are more affordable for what we are looking for. 

In addition to Wishing Well Hills, Decatur, Brookwood, and Smyrna/Marietta, you might also look into Powder Springs, Austell, and parts of Douglasville, as they offer more affordable options with solid rental markets.

They will be able to guide you through setting up financing, creating an investment plan, getting subs set up, and creating an execution plan.A good investor focused Realtor should be able to guide you on what markets you can afford, help you focus on your personal risk tolerance, and find a property that fits your skill set and financial goals.The more educated you are as an investor the better, but the right Realtor is going to unlock a wealth of information that is going to super charge your knowledge of investing, and help expediate your plan. 

i'm just making numbers up, but if your rent on a property is $1000 and your all-in cost is $1500, and you're negative $500 a month forever, that doesn't make sense, even if you can afford to cover the $500 with cash from another income source.i also agree with not using up all your cash, but that just means you might need to wait and save up more cash. 

Amazon has an amazing selection of affordable covers and you can search by color/pattern.

What's the closest "affordable" location to you?