@Allan C. 

Quote from @Allan C.: @Matthew Samson if you want to live in the house, then rent it from them.

@Chris Mahoo many new investors don't take the time to properly understand RE investing.1) Many are using approaches from 2010-2018 when Class A property prices were so low from the Great RE Crash that an investor could cashflow and get pretty easy Class A tenants to manage.2) If you look at what investors were doing before 2008-2010, most were buying Class B & C rentals.To make it worth while, an investor either needs to Fix & Flip or invest & hold rentals for 10+ years.- Over a 10 year period cashflow will increase as rents increase (rents typically rise faster than property taxes, insurance, etc.)- The property should be appreciating, if purchased in a good location, increasing the owner's equity/wealth.- Rents will be paying the mortgage off, increasing the owner's equity/wealth.- If you hold a rental until death, you can pass it on with a stepped-up cost basis, limiting captial gains if then sold (limited by inheritance tax limitations).Too many newbies on this site trying to replace their day job income via "passive" real estate investing w/o digging deep enough to understand how it really works.

(Previous rent was $1,300 but we're about to put in a brand new kitchen from the studs, new flooring throughout the house, new furance, adding A/C, etc).So do we just pay for it all upfront and mostly drain all of our savings, or do I let the rent pay for it and utilize our other savings to get a second property this spring/summer to increase our cashflow? 

.: Quote from @Allan C.: @Jeremy H.

The cost of entry is low, and cash flow is high.You can find distressed off-market duplexes under 120k and SFH under 80k in B to C-class areas.

@Gloria C. - there is no absolute answer to your question. 

If you ask around, you likely know someone in CA investing out of state.If you evaluate a long term rental property from a micro view of let's say the Year 1 return, with interest rates where they are, and using conservative estimates for rent, you'll be hard pressed to find compelling cashflow without going into C or D class areas nationwide. 

Quote from @Adam C.: I would avoid new build properties from southern impression homes.

.- My advice; however, is to work with a good mortgage broker as they often have access to more lenders (B or C lenders) that might be more flexible than the 5 big banks.- Finally where to buy: in general, ON, BC are expensive while AB, QC follows and other provinces, such NB, NS, PEI are much much more affordable.