Plus, having a fully paid-off property could be a nice safety net if the STR market takes a hit or occupancy slows down.On the flip side, if you’re eager to grow, saving for another property could be the better play.

A side question - if this time, November to January, is the worst time to find a tenant, does it somewhat logically follow that it's also the best time to buy? 

After putting about $50k into the property,  I’m just about $25k from meeting my completion goal that includes stucco, drywall, and siding.

I know in Virginia my friend had a similar issue (side-by-side duplex, though, not second floor) and he was not proactive, just warning them several times verbally.

If so, go to college and you can work on RE as a side gig or until you have deals under your belt.

For investors who lack knowledge and/or time, want to own physical real estate as part of their portfolio, and want to be as passive as possible on the real estate side of the investment, we've created a great route.  

My goal is to move more onto the ownership/management side of the real estate industry as soon as possible, but am not sure the best way to go about making the switch.

My sacrifice… no haircuts and no fast food. 1 job full time, 1 full time side hustle. 0 debt at the time other than student loans.

Get on the other side of stabilizing property 1 before you start thinking about buying a 2nd property.

It’s a great way to connect with investors and professionals in the Phoenix market who are active in residential deals.Looking forward to seeing how your journey progresses—feel free to share updates or ask questions as you dive deeper into the residential side!