Looking at this property as a long term rental strategy.

It’s a winning strategy…..  

Have you used the strategy?

My main focus is multi-family house hacking, but I’m open to other strategies as well.I’ve always had a passion for real estate and decided to move to a market with strong rental potential and affordability.

When we moved, we turned it into a rental, hoping this would be the start of our real estate journey—something we’d like to continue once my husband retires.Some key details:My husband is active duty and will retire in 3 years.We have one final move coming up this summer to Raleigh, NC.Our current debts are crippling us—the high interest makes it tough to stay afloat every month.The plan me and my husband are thinking bout:Sell the rental property.Use the proceeds to pay off all our debts, set aside emergency funds and a down payment for our next home.Free up $1,500/month from debt payments, and that also can stash in a high-yield savings account.Regain full VA loan entitlement, allowing us to purchase a multifamily home and use the house hacking strategy for up coming move.Avoid capital gains tax, since April marks five years of ownership, and the tenant’s lease ends in May.This wasn’t our original plan, and we hate the idea of using our equity to pay off debt.

It was strategy, patience, and knowing how to find and execute the right deals.

It also gave me the chance to experiment with short-term rentals before transitioning to a long-term hold, reinforcing my strategy for growing a real estate portfolio.

Especially the ones where I had doubters saying it couldn't be done or my strategy was wrong.What's next? 

This strategy aligns well with the buy-and-hold model.Leverage Local Expertise: Partner with professionals like real estate agents familiar with rental markets and property managers who understand tenant needs.

You're going to have to scrap like crazy to break even - think rent by the room, short term, mid term strategies that require more work.