You need an income that meets three requirements:Rents increase faster than inflation to offset constantly rising prices.It must be reliable; it continues even during economic downturns.It must last throughout your lifetime.These are all long-term requirements, so the current interest rates are not the major issue.

I am currently contracted to a large major energy company and I work a 2 week rotation in West Texas, so two weeks on and two weeks off.  

@Sharma Parth the company is out of Arizona and in 12 markets.Just a few years ago, Flint had a major crisis due to lead water line poisonings.

That said, the overall market is still grappling with major challenges, and inventory remains one of the biggest obstacles.So, what does this mean for you?

Everyone here wants to be active investors not passive investors.

The majority of the business I do is buying small multi families and identifying the towns that are more favorable for investing. 

@Travis Gutting, the fact of the matter is: $100k in today's market is by and large going to land you in a "rough part of town", a MAJOR renovation, or into rural areas.Granted, I don't know every market, but Cincinnati (my market) and Louisville are not too dissimilar.  

I would suggest picking someone with the most forum posts or the most/best reviews that way you know they are actually active!

We decided to outsource major tasks such as septic installation, plumbing, heating, and carpentry, while handling smaller projects ourselves—a decision that proved beneficial.

One of the best ways to engage with the community is to remain active in these forums (reading & contributing).Setting up keyword alerts is a great way to get started.All the best!