RachaelHey Rachel,you’re correct, if you’ve run your numbers the conclusion to drop the beachfront condo idea in favor of an SFR in unincorporated parts of Pinellas county is the way to go.

Portfolio = Income derived from financial instruments like dividends (including REITs), interest, royalties, and capital gains.Mostly income w/out loss potential, and favorable tax rates.Cap losses may offset cap gains w up to $3,000 loss.

Crime is on the rise, property protections for landlords is nearly non-existent, and development is leaving the area for more favorable regulations. 

I cannot afford for my first investment to not work out in my favor so believe me when I say investigation in my main concern right now.

I'm an active investor so I spend the time/energy in sourcing and managing my own rentals, I am also in a very favorable location to own rentals here in Memphis so I do it myself. 

My llc owns the house and I hoped to rent it, but market conditions are not favorable and I’m changing course to selling. 

Low property taxes and favorable loan options make our area one to certainly consider!

Biggest challenge usually for fix and flip is often securing the funding quickly in a favorable terms.

When the current shifts against the swimmers, some people decide to get out of the water and sit on the shore until the water shifts in their favor.

The next best time is when you decided you want/need to sell it for business reasons: current market is favorable, you have a better investment opportunity, you have an offer you can't refuse, and so on.The worst time to sell is when you were waiting to sell due to tax considerations, and now you can't sell anymore.