I had two choices: stay in my comfort zone or take a leap of faith.

I choose not to contribute to your loss.Best.

Get out of your comfort zone.

Ensuring you choose the right roommate is so important.

The biggest issue is that forgetting to assign a location or choosing the wrong one can mess up your balance sheet, leading to inaccuracies.

Examples might include areas in the Midwest, Southeast, or Sunbelt regions.Multifamily Properties: Consider duplexes, triplexes, or small apartment buildings to increase unit count and spread risk across multiple tenants.Short-Term Rentals: If you’re comfortable with the management requirements, STRs in vacation or business travel markets can offer significantly higher cash flow potential than traditional rentals.Value-Add Properties: Look for opportunities to buy undervalued properties where you can force appreciation through renovations or better management.Decision FrameworkRun the Numbers: Compare the projected cash flow, equity growth, and tax implications of selling versus holding with a refinance or HELOC.

I cant comment on the local markets, etc, but I would choose Cleveland for the simple fact you live there.

It's comforting to know I don't have to obsess about reviews. 

There are a lot of ways to crash and burn, so increasing the odds of succeeding long term should be your highest priority. you can always sell your local assets once you're comfortable managing rentals and ready for a market that better-suits your criteria. btw, kudos for being self-aware of your limitations.

I do not have many resources, but I am comfortable taking some risk and relying on my intelligence and research.