The city offers more affordability compared to the DMV area, with many renovated homes selling below 350k giving you a better chance at finding a property that fits your budget while avoiding sky-high prices.

It's going to be more about your confidence in the market that you can afford than anything else, so the primary thing is to look up a few areas you might be able to afford and then look for someone local that can hop on a call to give you an idea about what investing there is like. 

Since unless there is non payment an eviction will be tough, either way I want them both out  IF you really want them out - which I think is the right solution - then you will lose some money, it's just inevitable.

And my final dream is to buy land in my home country to build affordable housing for people there.

@Emily ShinHouse hacking a multi-family property is an excellent way to start investing in real estate, especially in a market like Columbus, Ohio, which offers affordability and growth potential.

How can I afford to buy a bigger house while also renting out my current house?

Both Indianapolis and Louisville are excellent markets to consider—affordable entry points, landlord-friendly laws, and steady rental demand.Since your background is in data science and analytics, you already have a strong foundation for analyzing deals.

Not the most scalable method, but I like the benefits it affords me while I am still a smaller operation.Completing 500 builds in just over 10 years is impressive for someone who just sorta fell into it.

I can't speak for the other markets but Toledo is a great place to invest due to the affordability.

My perspective is that I'm very pro-California appreciation and I'm willing to take some negative cash flow for a while (if someone can afford it).You mentioned that you may move back in the next 3.5 years.