5 strangers all living in a home that have to somehow get along. 

So you can buy a four flat, live in one unit and rent the other three, but you have to live in one unit on the site. 

My plan is to live there for a year then move out and rent the 4th one.  

I personally would only reno to add additional living space and leave the rest as is.

@Tim BergstromI live in Louisville.

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.

Or if your'e living in it would you feel comfortable in that area. 

My question: Through your own lived experience or knowledge of others, what are the most useful graduate degrees when it comes to real estate investing? 

You pay a bit more, but you get exactly what you want and don't have to worry about maintenance for a while which is obviously a savings.I live in the Woodlands, so considering the location of my home and rental property, I'd ideally like to build this in the area of The Woodlands, Conroe, Spring, Tomball, Klein, or Cypress. 

Two identical homes located next to each other would come up with the same value, even though House #1 was just renovated to a very high standard and House #2 hadn't ever been renovated since it was built in 1949.I always tried for an identical (or nearly so) beds, baths, sq ft of living area, garage and acres.