I was also considering the REI expo in February so maybe I'll see you there.You're a self-proclaimed novice but I think many other members of the community would agree that you're well on your way given your potential cashflowing rental and equity.You seem to have a strong position which would allow you to keep growing your portfolio in the next few years.I'd recommend diversifying your RE portfolio the same way you're diversifying with other investments (REITs, Stocks, bonds etc.).

If your property management company is good and has built an internal maintenance team which has set rates and had strong relationship relationships with licensed contractor which should keep costs in control, you should never need to shop contractors on your own I wouldn't think.So in short, our policy is give us your preferred contractors upfront if you have them, but then we work all tickets to resolution including dispatch, and payment of invoices.This is of course for operational expenses.  

We also have a very strong rental market, and that too has high demand from investors wanting to purchase. 

Naturally, I assumed REI’s "white-glove" service included a strong legal team to handle these situations efficiently.

The Main St property in Grainfield, KS, offered a promising opportunity due to its low purchase price and strong potential for a high return after renovations.

Is it better to diversify your portfolio in one geography, tenant base, style of property (SFH, Multifamily, Apartment).

Hi Steven,It sounds like you and your wife, Renee, have a wealth of experience in the real estate and construction fields, which is a great foundation for starting your real estate investing business.Given your background in residential remodeling and home inspections, and Renee's experience as a real estate agent, you're off to a strong start.

If you're working with an investment brokerage, I'd recommend tapping into Tampa and Central Florida markets too—areas like Riverview, Wesley Chapel, and Brandon have been strong for both flips and long-term holds with steady demand.

I am considering offering him $1.8m with a low (or no) down payment and seller financing at a low interest rate so I can at least break even on cash flow after getting rent closer to market value and with upside potential as a MTR and strong  appreciation opportunity.

Treat this property as a business and factor in all the associated expenses, including mortgage payments (if you pull a loan), maintenance, and potential vacancy periods.To simplify management and make this less of a hands-on job, I’d strongly recommend working with a property management company.