We are newer to real estate and I have a potential deal that is in a rural area but since it is from a family member I get first dibs on it.

Hello all!For context I am in Greensboro, NC. Small time landlord, just have one LTR right now. I have 2 tenants with kids in my LTR (3br 2ba). A while back, the main breadwinner lost his job as an HVAC tech and decid...

One Vacancy = 100% Vacancy:This is the biggest operational weakness.

Not exactly what I prepared for as my first doors but I want to make sure I do this right. What does the community suggest in terms of how the management agreement, leases, etc. are changed/structured due to this? Or ...

First, if limiting the "pond" to local, that's 1 very small circle of potential people.

That's a major weakness of the entire STR model.

People love repeating that line because it sounds inspiring, but in the real world it falls apart fast so...Let’s talk about both sides of this.The harsh reality nobody wants to hear is that flipping will expose every weakness you have i.e. financial, operational, emotional, all of it.

Fixed or capped floating exposure, staggered maturities, and enough liquidity to sleep well.What to avoid• Chasing a high cap rate in weak submarkets.

Arizona has good appreciation potential but is getting a bit tighter on cash flow, while Wisconsin still offers affordability if you stay local and know the neighborhoods well.When you’re comparing markets, I’d focus on these key metrics:Rent-to-price ratio (aim for 0.8–1% or higher)Job and population growth trendsLandlord regulations and property taxesDiversity of industries (to avoid dependence on one employer/sector)Also, look into markets where you’d actually want to live or visit frequently, especially for your first few deals, it makes managing and learning much easier.

.🏡 Home Prices: Slower Growth, Still ClimbingHome values barely moved in August — down slightly before seasonal adjustments, up 0.2% after — but they’re still 1.5% higher than last year.That’s not weakness; that’s balance.