That kind of shoot-from-the-hip approach can be fun for a minute, but it usually ends up like my old buddy Rick’s first deal.. he bought a distressed fourplex in Tucson years back without a real plan, and while he eventually turned it into a solid monthly cash flow, he spent the first six months sleeping with one eye on the tenant ledger, praying the HVAC wouldn’t bail on him after a hot desert day.

Because, based on prior experience, we all know that eventually the card will come up where that stock is now selling for $50, and you'll make a KILLING.

Well he eventually decided RE but did not really understand many areas of RE.

Adding in the layer of not being on the loan but holding title just sounds like it will eventually lead to problems like OP experienced.

And remember: if you bought it now, you won't be buying it next year, so you basically rob your next year of this tax deduction.

I also want to be active in other rust-belt cities that are similar to Milwaukee and I want to be part of their eventual comeback: Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, St.

Something like a live in flip/fixer to eventually become your next STR.

If you don't learn to manage your investment well, you will eventually destroy your property, lose money, waste your time, or drive yourself insane.

If you have deep pockets, I think Austin will eventually reward you, but if you are a newbie in real estate looking to cash flow positive day one or shortly thereafter, Austin is probably not your best bet in TEXAS.  

Eventually I realize that when I think about living on post-expense rental income, I’m treating the income as the “withdrawal rate”, in Boglehead parlance.