This may be easier to find in smaller towns or rural areas.Growth potential: Research areas with growing populations or emerging business districts.Tax incentives: Some localities offer incentives for small businesses or specific industries.Infrastructure: Ensure reliable internet and necessary utilities for your business.Potential locations to explore:Atlanta suburbs: Consider areas like Decatur, Marietta, or Lawrenceville for a balance of affordability and proximity to the city.South Carolina: Look into growing areas like Greenville, Rock Hill, or smaller towns in the Upstate region.North Carolina: The Research Triangle area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) offers opportunities, as do smaller cities like Asheville or Wilmington.Remember to thoroughly research local building codes, zoning laws, and business regulations in any area you're considering.

With your renovation skills, you’re set for success—just focus on growing neighborhoods and thorough inspections.Good luck!

NEVER buy a property without a thorough inspection by a great inspector that you select and pay for.

@Michael Plaks @Sean GrahamI had to do some research on this after reading the other replies in this thread because my understanding of the nuances of 1031s isn't as thorough as my understanding of some other real estate tax topics. 

@Kala SamuelTo start investing in real estate, define your goals and strategy, choose a market with job growth, population growth, and rental demand, finance your first deal with FHA Loan, conventional Loan, or Hard Money Loans, find the right property, build a support team, make offers, inspect the property thoroughly, and manage wisely.

So unlike markets like 30A and the like where prices have remained rather steady despite the returns being extremely poor at current home prices, I think we've probably already hit the bottom (or at least near it) on home values.Thanks so much for the thorough response!

We have seen a few properties that are within our budget, but would obviously do some more thorough analysis on the properties before pulling the trigger.On the other hand, we have been more interested in STR's since we planned to start investing in real estate.

Here's a deal I'm going to break down pretty thoroughly on my process of evaluation.

Rather, we use a 2-point bump in our exit cap rate with realistic/conservative rent appreciation and occupancy based upon both our internal projections and a thorough market analysis.

Look into investor backgrounds more thoroughly and perhaps use legal contracts that offer stronger protections and even tie to personal assets, many will always try to use the LLC to protect themselves, but serious investors will sign a note personally and have collateral to sometimes back it.I hope you find some clarity soon.