Maybe 20% is too rich and it's cheaper but I've never shopped property managers.Estimating an additional 10% for vacancies and 15% repairs.Fixed expenses + PM + 25% for vacancies/repairs = $37,996, or $404 left over.Now I'm torn because I could put estimated proceeds ($200K or so) in a fixed income investment and earn that today without doing anything.BUT, it is nice to have the US address as I go international, and if I wanted to come back I'd have a property.

That seems but CA charges income tax on home sales.  

Pacing yourself is key, especially as you get hands-on experience managing maintenance and tenant dynamics.Since you have a strong W-2 income, you're in a great position to leverage creative financing options as you grow.

I have a template that I use that includes projected income and projected expenses and I run the calculation myself, but if you like ones that do it all for you in addition to what has been mentioned above AirDNA has one as well.

From what I can tell, Charleston is considered a Growth market, Columbia an Income Market, and Greenville appears to be a hybrid (this is what I'm looking for). 

My overall goal is to generate monthly cash flow, and my current property might be a better rental option since it has equity.I’m also considering starting a business and purchasing the next property in the business’s name.

The §1245 Silver Lining: Turning Tax "Pain" into Strategic Gain“’That'll be $500,000 in ordinary income.'

Adding extra income streams, like charging for utilities or offering laundry services, can also help improve cash flow.

@David LewisRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

More on DSCR loans: DSCR loans won't use your income to underwrite the loan.