And if a property is owner occupied, how can you secure a loan with a hard money lender not being able to view the home to estimate repairs?

Based on some of the research done, I am inclined towards starting out with a small multi family investment property (2-4 multi family home).

Quote from @Zachary Deal: @Joshua Kavadi As @Zachary Deal and Chris said, you'll need to know that not every deal is a home run or even a triple.

That growth is unevenChase JordanFri, January 24, 2025  The ever-growing Charlotte region is home to 3 million people, but the population is projected to swell by more than 50% over the next 25 years, according to local researchers.By 2050, some 4.6 million people will be living in Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance said in a report released Thursday.

The tried and true version is pulling a list of properties whether you're targeting distressed homes or high equity homes in which case you can pull on something like Propstream or Propwire, you can skip trace through them or someone like Prime Tracers which has a pay as you go system. 

I’m in my 20s, 3 yrs into my Finance B.S. and I live at home so my current expenses are very little.

I shouldn't assume Fumi that you are female and if you are, you have to be even more cautious about having strangers in your home.  

This can also be triggered if they have kids or what they perceive to be valuables in the home that have not been secured.It can also relate to how you conduct the inspection.

I wouldn't touch Franklinton with a 10' pole on the existing inventory side. gravity 2 is being auctioned and sold by the developer the area didn't support office developer lost millions:https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2024/12/19/gravity...linden I agree on if you can get a good deal. super fast appreciation. small homes, close to downtown, you can look at year over year and it's going up fast but also fast to change. any urban adjacent neighborhood is going to be good. 

Common sources of such properties include:Foreclosures: Homes that have been repossessed by banks due to non-payment.Distressed Properties: Homes that are in poor condition and need a lot of work.Auctions: Properties sold at auction for below market value.Off-market Deals: Properties that aren't listed on the MLS but are available for sale through direct outreach or networking.The key is to buy a property at a price low enough to ensure that even after renovations, the home will appraise for a higher value.2.