Always invest in your backyard @Dina Mazur - you have a huge home-field advantage I would not give up.

The educational system in the U S is extremely lacking in the field of business/economics if someone can write a book as simple as RDPD and have millions of people say that the simple concept of if you save money and invest it in appreciating/income producing assets you’ll be better off than if you spend it on unneeded toys has radically changed their life’s because they never knew of or heard of that concept before.  

What makes 100% total sense to tenant does not always compute with what you need to be successful as an owner....and #1 in that field is collecting rent.

Real estate serves as the foundation, generating the income needed to reinvest in initiatives that preserve cultural heritage, create jobs, and support community growth.Diversified Value CreationReal Estate Portfolio: Profits from rental income, property flips, and value-add projects fuel the system.Trade Development: Integrating businesses like plumbing companies creates a pipeline for stable, high-paying careers while addressing labor shortages.Cultural Growth: Revenue is reinvested into programs that promote education, workforce development, and cultural preservation.

I am looking to progress my real estate investing career in a responsible and timely way, and it has been hard to save money for my next property while paying this much for my current property.

Overland Park, KS vs Kansas City, MO) Very landlord friendly, worst case eviction is usually 8 weeks + $500 + lost rent (cannot comment on individual cases and this is not legal advice) Large diverse metro area - variety of jobs, companies, people can have a career in KC.

I quit my corporate job in 2001 for a career in Real Estate Investing!  

Hopefully, based on actual field measurements, past project data, and estimating software, your contractor can develop a detailed estimate that lays out the cost of labor and all materials for each phase of the project.

It might also be unavoidable to live in a high cost of living area due to my career choices. 

My overall goal for my professional career is to start an investment firm and own a big multifamily portfolio and get into development.