There's always trade offs when it comes to investing and one of those tradeoffs (if you want to find positive cash flow) is having to be okay with an older house.

Meanwhile, others who had boiler rooms, or several of you (money bundlers -  aka "fall guys") will emerge unscathed. 

Network with other local investors and always have a solid emergency fund.2.

In 2021, this property would have sold for $1.2M.While this, still, is hard to cash flow at a 7% 30-year rate, buying a property that used to trade at a 5% cap rate for a 7.5% cap rate is inarguably better value.

Look into getting into a skilled trade as an electrician or a plumber Work more spend less.$10,000 might seem like a lot to you and it is to your circumstances but its doable.Good Luck!

This is both a business move and a workforce development initiative, targeting trades as a critical part of economic growth.

Unfortunately, people in the trades are often good at their trade but poor at managing their business.

Note, I speak of this as an immigrant household.To expand on #3; international trade is good.

Places with strong population and job growth (think the Sunbelt regions or emerging Midwestern cities) can offer solid cash flow and long-term appreciation. 

Emergency only.