Born and raised in New York; I have been working for a contractor for a few years now and have owned my own exterior cleaning business for 4 years as well.

I will continue enjoying the podcast and will appreciate the creativity getting toned down a notch, as it makes the left side of my brain hurt! 

Moreover, Memphis has a supportive community for veterans, which could offer additional resources and networks to support your investment journey.Since you mentioned not wanting to handle property management yourself, there are reputable property management companies in Memphis that can handle those responsibilities, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of rental income without the day-to-day management tasks.Balancing the purchase of your primary residence with your investment goals is a prudent approach.

My biggest concern is finding the right contractors.

HelloWe've had great success on our two SFH long term rental properties, and one of the parts that I really enjoy in this endeavor has been the deal analysis. 

I believe there is a $99 fee to list a property.There is a national shortage of nurses, which will mean increaseddemand for contract or traveling nurses.If we select properties that are also good LTRs, we have a fallbackoption.The following is from furnishedfinder.com.

Partner #2 married couple:  W is the buying selling RE agent on every house in LLC and Husband oversees contractor/project.   

Property managers can handle tenant screening, lease agreements, rent collection, and even routine maintenance with a network of reliable contractors, which could save you the headache of finding a trustworthy handyman remotely.That said, if you feel confident in your ability to manage these aspects remotely and have reliable contacts in place, you might be able to save money by doing it yourself.

This team consists of an Investor Focused Agent, Lender, Contractor, and PM.Read this article on the "core 4".

Never hire unlicensed contractors.