Whereas I (and others) continually urge them to stop being lazy and do their own research....go on VRBO and ABNB and look at the competition. 1) What are they charging?

Smoky Mountains seems to be a solid choice but I wonder about oversaturation and competition in that area?  

The tough part about New Jersey is that it is very competitive and very tight on inventory right now.

Some of my competition don't even bother with Airbnb. 

Some areas still offer strong appreciation potential along with steady cash flow, and when working with trusted lenders, you can find competitive rates in places like Memphis, Little Rock, and Oklahoma City, which tend to perform well on both fronts.

Our tools are a reflection of our ability to rationalize...This, in turn, is where the competitive advantage is.Think about it.

i think less competition is primarily going to mean less margin per deal. 

All 3 parts are critical to being successful here and we’ve been doing it with todays prices, todays competition and todays interest rates.  

Every investor has their own path, and hearing different perspectives will only enrich your journey.Challenges in Real Estate Investing:Finding deals: In competitive markets, it can be tough to find good deals that make sense financially.Capital and financing: Finding funding, especially as a new investor, can sometimes be challenging.Dealing with tenants: Managing rental properties and dealing with tenants can be tricky, especially with issues like late rent or property damage.Market risk: Real estate markets fluctuate, and external factors (like economic shifts or local development projects) can impact property values.I’d be happy to continue the conversation if you want to dive deeper into any of these topics!

Raleigh/Cary is what I know well, but the competition is steep.