Hi Daniel,If you're looking for strong cash flow, Midwest and Southeastern markets typically offer the best rent-to-price ratios.

Hold for Long-Term IncomeBuffett has held AMEX for nearly 60 yearsHeld Coca-Cola for 35+ yearsSimilar to buy-and-hold real estate strategiesFocus on Cash Flow GrowthBoth AMEX and Coke have consistently increased dividendsJust like raising rents over time in quality propertiesLook for MoatsAMEX: Strong brand and network effectsCoca-Cola: Unbeatable brand powerLike owning property in irreplaceable locations💡 The Real Estate AdvantageWhile Buffett mastered dividend investing, real estate investors can do even better because:We can use significant leverage safelyWe control our asset's improvementWe get superior tax advantagesWe can force appreciation through improvementsWhat do you think, BiggerPockets community?

Over the years, they’ve developed strong partnerships with tax advisors and wealth advisors, and lately, they’ve been working with some big names in the industry building new construction properties for their investor’s.

I've had a long career in community development and have a lot of bank contacts that would likely be interested in investing, but I'd need to prove the concept first with an initial fund (there are also a lot of other community development tools that could be leveraged to maximize and scale this).

I would strongly consider building equity to make a stronger down payment and further decrease your monthly cost. 

Implementing water-saving initiatives is a smart way to reduce utility costs.

Start small with strategies like house hacking, leveraging your hands-on skills for value-add properties, and building a strong team or network to reduce risks.

@Charlie Hardage, how is paying down the HELOC better than paying down the initial mortgage without the HELOC?

I like Clarksville, TN because of the strong fundamentals, minimal volatility, and balance of cash flow and appreciation opportunities. 

If this is for real, I strongly suspect you'll need to be an accredited investor.