Hi @Catherine Javier,Your options each have pros and cons, but let’s break them down strategically:Renovate and Shift to MTR/STR: This could maximize cash flow ($2,400+ for MTR) and offset the costs of renovations.

You own one truck full of tools and if it gets stolen or breaks down, its now my problem?

the market is much more unforgiving than it used to be - i know those price points in Ohio and Alabama look appealing to someone in California, but they come with their own challenges.see these threads and see what you think.https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/1215726-break...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1159104-overl...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/963/topics/1195280-expe...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1160450-run-i...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1137397-balti...

I'm currently looking at using a VA loan for purchasing a duplex to live in one side & rent the other.However in this market, it seems like even after I move out & into another property, most of the duplexes I've looked at won't be positive cash flowing, or break even.

I mean, you might be better off taking the case on yourself.You can break a management agreement whenever you want, but there are fees associated with that.

Love how you give a general break down of your goal-setting.

A furnace breaks and no $ to fix it, tenant's leave, "seller" say "wtf, why is there no payment on the mortgage" and buyer says "well, I have no rent's coming in, furnace broke, it was like $8k to fix it, i don't have $8k, i was getting $300mnth, I have $1,500.

We could all use a little laugh break in the workday, right?

When lenders calculate your DTI and your owned properties are breaking around even or a little cash positive from rents, do they basically look at those as no debt or even positive income to keep giving you more loans?

Those buying close to the city are either breaking even or taking negative cashflow and banking on appreciation (or buying all cash and parking money, ha).If you do consider Lowell, I'd also recommend you check out the Fitchburg/Leominster area as well.