I'm actively seeking mentorship from someone with experience in similar markets who can shed more light on this process.

I used a hard money loan to purchase this off market deal.I rehabbed the upper two units within two and a half weeks and have a renter already lined up for one unit.

If you are willing to live in urban areas you may want to talk to a local bank in your market and see if they have any incentives or grant loans for certain areas.  

But, the self-sufficiency test for FHA loans can be really difficult in SF, meaning that the market rent from units you will not occupy must be sufficient to pay for the mortgage payment. 

The "best market" is less about the market per se and more about the deal you're able to find in my opinion.

The Japanese market is different in that it is a high yield cash flow market, non speculative investing.

It's not RTR's fault the property can't absorb proper cap ex, that's a product of the market.

.🔹 Profit Multiple Ways – You can rent the property for cash flow, sell the option at a profit, or buy it later at a pre-agreed price (often below market value).🔹 Great for Sellers & Investors – Motivated sellers can turn a vacant or hard-to-sell property into income while investors secure future deals without a huge upfront commitment.🔹 Ideal in Any Market – Whether home prices are rising or falling, lease options allow you to lock in today’s price while benefiting from future appreciation.Other creative strategies—like seller financing, subject-to deals, and the BRRRR method—can also open doors, but lease options remain one of the most powerful, low-risk, minimal cash out-of-pocket ways to build a portfolio.

You really can't get a better snapshot of the Cleveland investment market right now. 

My goal is to help property owners navigate management challenges while ensuring their investments are well taken care of.I’d love to hear from experienced investors about what’s working in the Charleston market and share insights as I gain more hands-on experience.