Buy and holds is the key to true wealth with all the benefits of depreciation, appreciation, loan pay down by your tenants, leveraging the equity, cash-flow etc etc, but it often times isn't the active income that pays the bills until you build up a portfolio and even then there's the tenant management or managing your property managers.That's why I'm involved in all 3.

There's obviously quite a bit of diligence that comes after such as who the key principles are and their credentials/track record (both balance sheet and experience), the underlying real estate and thesis behind the investment & tax prep and audit procedures but as a general rule of thumb if the investor can't get past the first part which is understanding what they are investing in, passive investing is probably not for that individual. 

And of course, getting financing squared away is key so you know your price range, which will help narrow down locations and strategies.

We moved to Asheville in August and purchased our primary home in Weaverville, which is a cozy fixer upper on one acre.

Have now been told my depreciation schedule for my rental properties has been lost in a move.

My wife and I just moved to Sacramento 2 weeks ago from the bay. 

@Jerry Zigounakisi'd pick a market close to you, or one you have strong ties in, rather than trying to get to one via math.can you invest where you live, or 1-2 hours from where you live, or where you like to vacation, or where you went to college, or where you plan to move someday?

if you want to move to a LCOL market and house hack there, that's great. 

Hey Jerry, good to see you making moves!

We have only 2 criteria for the order we process applications: 1) nearest move in to the date unit is available to be rented 2) order that the completed applications are received.If we had a unit for rent that would be rent ready Jan 15 and have multiple applications, the application processed first is the one who can move in the fewest days after Jan 15.