If you're unsure when you'll be moving, a ski-lease or mid-term lease might be an option.Truckee (City) has regulations on short-term rentals and a waiting list for permits.

There is no Mid-Term or a Rent by the Room style loan as of yet. 

I wanted to buy a mid size apartment because of the scalability.

With 700+ credit you should be able to get mid to high 6s if you pay a couple points and do a 5 year pre payment penalty.

It’s typically less risky and easier to manage compared to a fix-and-flip or mid-term rental, especially if it’s your first time dealing with property management and rehabs.

And folks from the mid west would say 3 to 4k  and some would say 5k with most folks thinking these days 10k is enough.. and then just as you say work the math backwards at 300 a month which is pretty tough to make if your max leverage and you have your answer of how many houses you have to own and manage.

MInut has a low average review (mid-3s I think) on Amazon which is a bit of a red flag. 1 per room at a total of $60/month sounds excessive for something that is not likely to be a common occurrence. 

Currently, a decent house in Waco ranges from the low to mid 200's.

Unsure if this allows us to leave mid-year.

My other investments focus on the mid-term rental space, and I’m drawn to Jacksonville to stay near hospitals and schools, which are essential for my target demographic.I’d love insights on the strength of the current market here, any projected trends, and tips for making a solid investment in this location.