Personally, I would never live in PHX, but that is all personal biases (I prefer seasons and greenery), and clearly lots of people choose to live in PHX.At the end of the day, I would argue market selection almost only comes into play when you are talking assets that cater to institutional buyers that have to get investment committee sign off. 

@Zack Whiting - You are in a top tier market for investment properties!

Hey @Paul LaValley welcome to the forums, and phoenix and Tucson are great markets, what makes you interested in those markets specifically?

Good potential for appreciation/rent growth upside as well in the next 5-10 years in my opinion with the market still being one of the most affordable in the country.

You need the backup option in case the mid-term rental market changes.Minimizing turn costs and downtime is critical.

Passive income is certainly the name of the game - building a real estate portfolio and creating generational wealth are key ingredients to long term holistic financial health and success.There are fantastic real estate investment opportunities in various markets, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast of the country. 

This will help you close deals faster.Focus on marketing and lead generation to find motivated sellers—direct mail, driving for dollars, and online marketing all work well here.Know your numbers—being able to accurately assess the value of properties and make solid offers is key.Network with other investors and professionals—attend local REI meetups, connect with title companies, and build relationships with hard money lenders.Feel free to reach out if you ever want to chat more or exchange ideas!

Cleveland and Dayton can be great markets for high cash flow and low purchase prices, but you need to be careful when navigating the neighborhoods so you're not buying in a D/F class area where no property managers will manage and where you'll never see any positive cash flow.

.): ~$35K (assuming 8%)Total Cost: ~$375K–$385KProjected Profit: $65K–$75K before taxesThat is a decent margin, but this being a two-year project, you need to be sure the market doesn't shift downward, and that you have a buffer for unexpected costs.3.

It’s great to hear that you’re already active in the Southern Maine market.