I am a realtor in North Carolina and I am actively buying properties for myself as well as for my investor clients.

Keep watching the market and align yourself with people who are actively buying, they will have their fingers on the pulse of what is going on. 

Hi Jon from Boyertown, PA-You and your fiancé are interested in buying your first short-term rental and wonder profitable areas to purchase with a budget up to $500,000.I would look at places along the west coast of Michigan, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and near Ann Arbor, MI.It is important to understand the local STR regulations in each community and partner with a property management company that can help your navigate that and manage it well for an excellent guest experience.Don't forget to look into bonus depreciation and doing a cost segregation study to increase the tax benefits of ownership and if you "materially participate" in the management of the property per IRS guidelines it can offset active W-2 income which most real estate cannot.To Your Success!

I have down an owner financed deal in 2024 and still actively use a HELOC in support of my flipping.  

.- Working a W2 as a firefighter, posting and consuming content- Leaving my W2 to dive deep into real estate investing and working as an agent... and still watching/posting content all while business was ok - Deleting social media apps (one have one on my phone that I use 10 minutes or less a day), diving deep into building my business and skills which have drastically increased due to pure focus and increasing my business significantly- moral of the story... focus on the things you need to do in business (dollar productive activities) and life experiences while reducing consumption will increase your success  

If the investor is actively involved and can stay on top of materials, roll with it!

Learn what people are doing right now in this difficult market and find a way to replicate their success.A lot of people say they are actively investing.

It may be helpful:I can give you some general info on insuring the property:Here are some things to look for from an Insurance prospective:1.Any in-ground tanks (active or inactive)2.Any Knob & Tube or Aluminum Wiring3.If built before 1978, does the building have Lead Safe certifications4.Any wood stoves or secondary heating units.

Game changer for active investor looking to get more passive investments, busy professional looking to diversify in real estate, individual investor looking to get into commercial or larger assets. 

Midnight leaking roofs, frozen pipes in the street all that.