Examples include Austin, TX or Raleigh, NC.Tertiary Markets: These are even smaller cities or towns, often with specific economic drivers like a university or a major employer.2.

Purchase price: $600,000 Cash invested: $30,000 Purchased single family home, finished basement making the property a duplex.

I am trying to scale with larger properties (10+ unit bldgs.) so I am exploring different funding strategies beyond zero down and including OPM

It has cost many people including myself a lot of unnecessary money and still is because you deal with the tax portion of opening unnecessary LLCs recommended by supposed professionals. 

The more time you invest in something the more incentivized you are to actually sign on the dotted line, because you think to yourself "well i put in this much time so far, might as well finish it up".The issue with this scam/con sales process is that the guys on the phone are aiding and abetting the victim on the phone to do something which is not in their best interest.

I am particularly interested in turnkey properties and single-family rentals, but I am also open to exploring other options, including duplexes and different investment strategies. 

That's including high Baltimore property taxes, expenses, mortgage, etc. 

Buy box: Location: Approx. 30 min drive to Boston Heights, for workNeighborhoods: Decent walkability score - not far from shops/restaurants/trendy neighborhoodsIdeal tenants: Close to hospitals/universities/schools for professionals/students/familiesBudget: $175-250K - Buying w/conventional loan, 5% down/ approx 20K reno.Property type: MFH 2-4 units - preferably side-by-side, with a yard we can fence for our dogUnits: 3+/1+ - better if 1.5/2 bath per unitTimeline: Plan to live there for 2 years, but possibly only 1 year if we find another investment opportunityGoal: Focus on appreciation - would like to see cash flow in year 2-3 (the year we move out), including overhead (Vacancies, Maintenance, Utilities) and budgeting in PM if eventually we don't manage ourselvesValue add: Opportunity for some forced appreciation, but not a full reno - cosmetic upgrades and updating kitchens/baths while we live in one unit.

I already have proof of concept in Raleigh as Ive talked to multiple people (including the agent Im working with there) saying airbnb-ing rooms is a cash cow there. 

My university had resources for parents and alumni which included where to stay and info about the local area so you can try connecting directly with the school.