Obviously you can maintain a stronger presence and level of involvement investing in properties near you.

Each part of the supply chain will raise prices to maintain their margins.

I've tried stock market and never really made that much.

just like stock brokers in the day !!!

It might cause me financial harm as I have to sell more stocks and might pay short term capital gains vs long term capital gains.

Over the next 6-12 months, keep building your savings, maintain that strong credit score, and dive into researching your target markets.

I have a confession: my only duplex, which I gave owned now for 2 years and recently moved out of from a house hack, has proven to cost me more to maintain/pay taxes/repair/fix etc to the point where my cash flow is close to zero.

Properly maintains/doesn't damage the property.3.

Potential for Over-RelianceWhile guidance is valuable, it’s important to maintain your independence as an investor.

Your financial position is strong, and leveraging financing for your next rental while maintaining a conservative debt-to-income ratio is a smart approach—consider consulting a lender to explore options that align with your goals and keep your investments sustainable.