Quote from @Paul LaValley: I live in Tucson and know Tucson really really well so I want to start here and then jump up to include Phoenix area. 

Quote from @Qais Attarwala: Hi everyone, Just wanted to start out by saying thank you to everyone in this really supportive community.

Should we start LLC? 

I'm a local youth pastor in MN and I'm looking into getting started in real estate so that I can provide extra income for my growing family.

Goal would be to acquire 20 rentals by the age of retirement, with some already starting to be paid off.I am in the same boat as you, and I focus on safe appreciation all day (small cash flow for safety and then focused on markets on that appreciate). 

Yes. build to rent in urban core adjacent neighborhoods. traditionally in our market in Columbus Ohio existing inventory was good 2014-2020. as prices rose, the cost to build started to match existing inventory prices because of supply shortage, especially for 2-4 multiunit dwellings. around that time we started to look at new construction and land. we found that land is a 12 month or more supply in our market which makes it a buyers market and you can design any structure you want in new construction. if you like a layout or floorplan all you have to do is design it. after that we looked at the right unit mix and Floorplans and layouts. we started looking at high rent per square foot layouts that were better than single family.

Local and just starting out. 

This kind of govt nosiness and overreach is why I initially decided against the financial planning industry before starting in credit. you can thank 2008 and all the fraud that went on for that.

May be a good start for you and you wouldn't have to sell your business. 

Quote from @Edward Barrett: New investor here trying to stay in my local market (Dayton, OH).Since I've started looking for my first deal I've come across a few section 8 properties that seem to pencil, but I'm a bit loath to jump into that kind of deal.