Our Recommendation: This decision is ultimately up to you.

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

Mark, For all your complaints about people not contributing good advice here... you know the people you're invested with are still raising money and the fact that they've paused distributions, for any reason, is highly important information to any potential investor. 

This growth fuels demand, drives appreciation, and ultimately makes strategies like BRRRR or cash-out refinancing viable over the long term.

@Yents Ybrimovic If the 203k loan only requires 3.5% down and you can finance all the repairs in the loan - then what exactly is your friend contributing?

After a bit more research, I actually think renting a place will get me started faster and earn some experience doing Airbnb with a little less risk involved.Obviously I still need to be concerned about not violating a lease agreement by doing so and I would likely live on the property and lot or all the time.Ownership is still the ultimate goal, but this looks a faster party to self driven income.

Ultimately, it’s about finding an arrangement that aligns with your goals without compromising your ability to discover the best deals.

Look into areas with lower price points and solid rental demand this can allow you to start investing without the pressure of high local prices.Your brother’s contribution gives you financial flexibility, so use this time to find a property that fits your needs without rushing.

For more info on Cleveland you'll want to read The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods.

Of course, if the ultimate plan is to run it as an STR, then it has to be analyzed through that lens.