There are strong path-of-progress areas, but you need to know the nuances.

Congrats on your first STR in Sevierville—sounds like a strong start!

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.

However, you should explore REMAX, KW and ERA, which are really strong here.2- Depends on the location.

if his income is strong enough and not as much debt, he should be OKHope that helps..

Cash flow is usually strong because rent prices are decent, and the cost of the property is relatively low compared to places like California.

The tourism demand is strong year-round, especially in beach towns like Panama City Beach or Destin.

I'm not saying "wow, what a deal" or to copy this I'm just saying when compared to SFH or continuing to rent, the 2-4 unit househack is very appealing and thus demand is strong.

i say that not to discourage you, but so that you have a realistic picture of what to expect.as @Travis Timmons alluded to, you need to be in a strong financial position to even think about starting to invest. 

If the Transunion report verifies everything, and they meet my other criteria (credit scores, proof of income, background and eviction checks...) then we are good.In my 15+ years at this, I have found a very strong correlation of credit score and tenant quality.