To rent the home, I would lose about $2,500 per month (based on comparable rents in my area, property management fees, etc).Both options loose the same amount by roughly 2 years, and by this time, I still will not have built up much more equity in the home to make selling it a break even unless there is price appreciation by then.My dilemma is this: I speculate that my home will not appreciate much in the next 3-5 years due to the rapid pace of development in the surrounding area.In 5-10+ years, maybe, but by then I'll have bled $150,000 - $300,000.I have thought about this a lot and feel that I mar'-too close to the problem to see the best solution.

It’s growing fast, has good schools, and offers affordable homes compared to Houston.

The $1,500 net cash flow you mentioned represents a tightened rental return that could provide consistent passive income.

Reach out if you would like to compare options or revenue potential for different homes and communities. 

This requires consistent oversight and experience, which most investors simply don’t have.The Bottom LineIf you want to lose money and risk expensive legal fees, go ahead and self-manage.

The cost associated with insurance for not having 20% is peanuts compared to what you potentially can do leveraging your down payment. 

I have liquid assets and want to make smart, scalable investments that balance cash flow, appreciation, and low risk.GoalsGenerate consistent cash flow to diversify my income.Maximize appreciation potential for long-term wealth growth.Invest in areas with low crime rates to minimize risk.Reduce my tax burden for 2024 with real estate purchases.My Current ThoughtsI’m torn between two main strategies:Multifamily Properties:Looking at markets like Austin, Raleigh, and Tampa for 10-50 unit multifamily properties.Love the scalability and centralized management, but I'm concerned about high upfront costs and competition.Section 8 Housing:Considering affordable markets like Memphis, Cleveland, or Indianapolis to purchase 5-10 single-family homes.I like the government-backed rent stability, but managing multiple properties across different locations seems intensive.Key QuestionsWhich strategy would you recommend for my goals and liquidity?

Correct - Track all your income and expenses.The bookkeeping will determine whether you are profitable or not.it will also be good to compare from year to year your income / expenses to see what expenses you can potentially try to limit.I.E.

., (3) gives you viable options and explains the pros and cons of each option and (4) you enjoy interacting with - this should be a relationship, not a transaction.Once you find a few lenders like this (and you should have relationships with more than one), then you can start comparing rates and fees.

The bank does still ask for my tax returns each year and with each deal and my adjusted gross income last year was comparative to your stated cash flow from your rentals.