just to be candid - i am very skeptical that a house at that price point will cash flow. 

I don’t know if I should invest in the Jersey market and put maybe 20-50% down on something, make less cash flow and make more appreciation, or every two years or so maybe buy something fully cash (my own $) in the Midwest let’s say 5-10 units and make more cash flow with no debt as with the income I make I can just save and buy more, don’t necessarily need to leverage in some markets.

Like most places with growth though, it's hard to find properties to cash flow given interest rates etc. 

That’s the lowest hanging fruit in my opinion. leverage the lenders money and have great cash on cash returns… move out after a year and then repeat the process.

Do I wait to get more cash?

Purchase price: $184,000 Cash invested: $92,000 This is an international investment in Split, Croatia NOT Santa Barbara, California.

This bodes well for long-term equity growth.Rising Rents: The uptick in rental prices shows a strong demand for rental properties and could lead to better cash flow for investors.Economic Strength: Reading has a diverse economy, with key sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and education providing stability.Rental Demand: Low vacancy rates signal that people are actively renting in the area, which is essential for scalability.Future Development: Any upcoming infrastructure projects or new businesses could further boost the market.With these positive trends, it seems like Reading could be a scalable rental market.

Ultimate goal is good cash flow to enhance retirement income.

so again in my initial example: Starting with $3000 in debt/$10000 in income(30%DTI)...adding a property that PITIs $4000 and gross incomes(after 75%) $6000...you are telling me that you add the difference only to income, or debt if its not cash flowing?

I figured if I get a decent deal on a turnkey property that has at least 3 bed 2 bath I can prob rent for 2k a month give or take depending on the amenities and make decent cash flow. anyone else have any experience with renting single family rentals in this area?