I’m a 41-year-old father of six who loves the Lord and is driven by a desire to build a better future for my family through real estate.I own a small tile installation business, am a certified insurance agent, and am currently in the process of obtaining my real estate license.

Some numbers:Expected 2026 income after raising rents to market value and assuming 7% vacancy: $144k.Expenses: $14k property management, $18k property tax, $10k insurance, $10k utilities, $8k in repairs/maintenance/advertising/admin/etc: Total operating expenses: $60kNOI: $84kBased on 6% cap rate that brings the valuation to only $1.4m, or $1.5m based on 5.5% cap rate.

I am unable to make a concrete decision until April-May anyway.

We’ve made the decision that neither of us want to deal with an after hour emergency call from a tenant so we use a PM company.  

This will help you make informed decisions when it comes to buying. 

It was the right decision for me at the time to have it be an LTR, but it's a PITA restoring it.

For structuring your business, consider whether you actually need an LLC or if umbrella insurance might be a simpler alternative.

For insurance you often have to have a certain amount of access to get to furnaces, hot water heaters, and electrical panels.

Your relo benefits will likely govern this decision more than other factors.

You want an accountant who can help you strategize and who is responsive when you want to know the consequences of the financial decisions you are making throughout the year.Good luck.