Diving deeper.. check who’s on their team, how they structure their deals, and whether you’re comfortable with how the profit splits work.

Examples might include areas in the Midwest, Southeast, or Sunbelt regions.Multifamily Properties: Consider duplexes, triplexes, or small apartment buildings to increase unit count and spread risk across multiple tenants.Short-Term Rentals: If you’re comfortable with the management requirements, STRs in vacation or business travel markets can offer significantly higher cash flow potential than traditional rentals.Value-Add Properties: Look for opportunities to buy undervalued properties where you can force appreciation through renovations or better management.Decision FrameworkRun the Numbers: Compare the projected cash flow, equity growth, and tax implications of selling versus holding with a refinance or HELOC.

There are a lot of ways to crash and burn, so increasing the odds of succeeding long term should be your highest priority. you can always sell your local assets once you're comfortable managing rentals and ready for a market that better-suits your criteria. btw, kudos for being self-aware of your limitations.

It’s worth looking into now to get ahead of it, but also depends on your comfort level and goals.

We are lucky enough to have a really good offering around here, everything from the plastic-on-the-seats corner place, to some high-end gourmet, everything in between and Taco Bell too.

@Mordechai ChaimovitzGreat points made above along with what @Daniel C. said referencing @Tom Shallcross's post on another thread.The context and variables for each individual investor will vary but many people are comfortable with getting a 2-4 unit that will reduce their out of pocket expense compared to their previous rent with the intent to do rehab and raise rents over time.

Lastly, keep an open line of communication with your manager so they feel comfortable bringing up concerns or bigger repairs.

The lessons you learned the hard way in 2008 will be invaluable now, and it’s great that you’re aiming to stay small-scale and within your comfort zone of Sacramento, which gives you an advantage of knowledge in that market.Given your experience, I'd say start by focusing on three key areas to build confidence and minimize risks:Budget Control: Over-renovating was one of the big mistakes you mentioned.

Just off the top of my head, I wouldn't feel super comfortable with non-US properties because properties in the US are held to HUD code (at a minimum).

There are good deals to be found, and people should invest where they're comfortable.