Where you pick will depend on your goals for cash flow and your budget to buy.

Jeff and John are extremely reasonable and may give you a handful more great ideas based of what your end goal is.  

For funding, explore options like FHA loans, personal savings, or creative financing, and focus on New Jersey markets that align with your goals, such as Newark for rentals or commuter towns for house hacking.

I guess my goal is to figure out my next steps and get a clearer picture of how I can break into the real estate world and start building something for the future.Thank you.

Key Factors for a Good Seller-Financed DealCash Flow: Rental income should exceed monthly payments (PITI) by at least 1.25–1.5x.Purchase Price: Compare to ARV and market value for fair pricing and equity potential.Interest Rate: Aim for competitive rates; higher rates must still allow positive cash flow.Amortization/Balloon Terms: Favor longer amortization and align balloon payments with your exit strategy.Down Payment: Lower upfront costs reduce risk but should meet the seller's expectations.Flexibility: Seek no prepayment penalties and fair late-payment clauses.Property Condition: Ensure the property’s condition matches terms through inspections.Seller Motivation: Assess the seller’s willingness to negotiate favorable terms.Exit Strategy: Have a clear plan for refinancing or payoff at term end.Portfolio Fit: Ensure the deal aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance.Vetting multiple deals and consulting professionals is crucial to making sound decisions.

@Paul Lucenti It is common to equate acquiring more properties to scaling and many rely on buying lower tier market/neighborhood section 8 rentals to achieve this goal.

DSCR loans are based off of down payment, credit score and either actual or market rents so it helps to supercharge an investor's real estate goals and net worth.

Having a diversified portfolio is one of my end goals.

That's up to your goals and long term strategy.

It's a great way to talk through your plans and goals for real estate with people that actually understand!