i tell them all the time to find a good W2 job you like and you plan on staying with a long time. 

Does anyone have any advice on effectively setting up temporary battery-operated cameras on a long-term rental property to deter break-ins and squatters while rent-ready repairs are being made before a tenant moves in?

I imagine it would also have a lot to do with your long term goals in real estate.

Do you and your husband have any kind of long term strategy in mind?

Purchase price: $550,000 Cash invested: $145,000 Sale price: $915,000 This was a home run for a long term (5 years) buy & hold investment property (I specialize in this area). - Initial investment of $145K (DP+closing)- It had one tenant for 5 years and 3 months (no turnover), and the tenant paid off the mortgage and expenses in those 5 years.- I spent around $30K to do upgrades before selling.- Sold it for $915K after 5.5 years (received $442K at the closing)- Did 1031 exchange and bought 8 SFH in NE & AL worth of 1.6M (brings $4k/months income now) What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

and also like what I do Utilize as STRs: You furnish and list these properties as short-term rentals (STRs) on platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb.Generate Cash Flow: The higher rental income from STRs, compared to long-term rentals, allows you to cover your mortgage/lease payments, generate positive cash flow, and potentially have funds left over for further investments.Positive Cash Flow: STRs often generate higher rental income than long-term rentals, allowing you to cover your costs and potentially profit.Tax Advantages: You can often deduct expenses related to your STR business, such as mortgage interest, property taxes, and maintenance costs.

I am new to investing in real estate, sort of, and a long time listener to BP pod, but first time being on the forums.

Everything comes with a risk but I want to hear everyone's opinions for both states in the long run, thanks in advance It really depends on your style and goals and type of investing.I invest in multiple states and there can be some substantial differences.First decide if you want to do Flips, Long Term Rentals, Short Term Rentals, Shared Housing, Multi Family, Land, Tax Deeds, REITs, Syndication, Commercial and then decide. 

Quote from @Ryan Kane: Long time follower of BP in Canada first time poster!

Once I've completed these initial projects and built up some capital, my long-term goal is to transition into buy-and-hold investments in potentially more affordable markets to maximize cash flow and scale up.Right now, I'm particularly interested in investing locally here in the Seattle metro area.