They are stuck in 2014 when notes were so cheap and easier to make money: now pricing is tight and even just buying to resell is challenging.Note investing can be more passive than other aspects of real estate but still takes a lot of work as well as a lot of experience and knowledge as there are many moving parts that can go wrong 

Meet with some real estate agents, banks, brokers, and property managers/developers in those areas. 2025 is going to be a pretty awesome year for cash rich investors who can pick up some excellent deals on the cheap! 

Got for pretty cheap and cashflows with no problems.

And they're cheap or nearly free.  

The goal is never just to buy cheap and hope.. it’s to buy right, position yourself for growth, and do it in a way that you won’t be kicking yourself over a couple years down the line.I’m not saying it’s all going to be smooth sailing; real estate rarely is.

The main property will be my primary residence.My biggest question is, what kind of foundation would you use, (that is to code and will pass inspection/permits in Charlottesville) that is either relatively easy DIY or cheap to outsource.

Cheap hands off legal ADU garage conversions in coastal So Cal start at ~$120k (if all goes well).  

Overall, my plan is to get as much equity as I can in this market to then invest in more real estate, then optimize in the end for cash flow.Some background info on me: My wife and I are both 24 years old, each of us make a good living for this area and are fine saving money and living in an apartment with cheap rent at the moment.

We have cable or YouTube TV.Can't be cheap on this.We even advertise if someone else isn't offering cable channels what else are they cutting corners on?

5K rent seems cheap for the area so I would continue with that.