Value and rents should eventually increase to turn cashflow positive and build your wealth.You're next learning experience will be, now that you are out of day-to-day management, how will you be able to handle the inevitable expense challenges?

With your background in the Air Force, MBA, and construction, you're in a great position to launch a real estate venture.

Let's use an example of replacing a leaking kitchen faucet (assuming it can't be repaired):You can easily find out how much the materials are by going to the Home Depot website and picking one out.For labor we Googled, "How long does it take to replace a kitchen faucet" and this is the answer we got:AI Overview: Replacing a kitchen faucet can take 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the faucet's complexity and whether you're doing it yourself.

In my home market of Florida, our insurance rates have made it much harder to have positive cash flow on a CRE deal.

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

@Dominic CampeloWith your contracting expertise and business growth, you’re in a fantastic position to enter real estate investing.

@Haley White that’s awesome you were in a position to be able to pivot and take advantage of the market. 

It may make sense to save a bit more and invest from a position of power.Keep in mind most helocs are adjustable.

When I run the numbers based on these rents, the property operates at a negative cash flow.If I increase the studio's rent to $1,400 per month, the property becomes cash-flow positive.