Additionally, I would suggest you run some financial calculations such as cash on cash return as well as any appreciation from the asset if/when you sell.

What are your thoughts on Cleveland as a place to begin investing and What areas would you recommend I begin looking at?

Your VA loan will be crucial to your real estate investing growth, especially since it affords you the potential opportunity to own more than one property, depending on your overall allotment.For active military personnel, that conundrum of where to invest and where you will end up is always part of the issue that sometimes causes analysis paralysis so it's great you have one in VA Beach already.

Quote from @Megan OConnor: I am new to investing and we are thinking about a STR in Ludlow, VT.

Lots of investment in the region as well so hopefully quality job growth will continue.

I am stating out with wholesaling and once I raise enough funds will be investing in rental properties and flips.

For context, I'm from Edmonton, and have been in investing in Alberta for last 11 years, and in Texas the last 1.5 years.

The best protection for you and your investments?

I would still set aside money for renovations that are need based if you do that and use the rest to invest.

It's mostly Class A properties, a few Class B.You may find the below copy & paste info useful in addressing your question:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?