I furnished 2 STRs for that amount, just go to either high-end thrift stores or a lower-end antique store....you'd be surprised at how little you can pay for solid wood furniture...

Start here...have a solid lease with an Addendum of dealbreakers/rules that are written in plain everyday language. 

Rents have been pretty close to what the housing authorities advertise, sometimes even a bit higher.Fort Wayne’s a solid spot with low taxes and good cash flow—definitely worth looking into.

These are top drive-to destinations for much of the Southeast, so short-term rentals here can generate solid cash flow, especially during peak seasons.The area is also seeing steady growth, with more infrastructure and amenities being added to support visitors and new residents.

In 4 or 5 years you will have appreciation and a solid number of years with 2% remaining.  

When the time came to sell, I anticipated a solid profit from the deal.

If you're able to save $50-100K per year for 14 years (when you're 40), a combination of getting solid deals, paying down debt, and having a target goal of income vs expenses, it's definitely doable.  

Starting with a single-family home in Kansas City is a smart move, and it sounds like you’re really digging into the numbers, which is super important for making informed decisions.From what you’ve shared, your offer of $140,000 with an 8% interest rate and a 20% down payment seems like a solid starting point.

My team at Graystone Investment Group works with investors to handle the whole process—finding solid deals, managing rehabs, and long-term property management.I get why you're looking for options closer to home, and Florida has a lot of potential when you find the right markets.

., and I still love Cook County because I have a solid team and underwrite deals properly.I think @Paul De Luca nailed it on the head, though - it seems like you are quite risk-adverse, so maybe given your risk tolerance, it's not the best idea, but if it were me, I would not think twice about it, and find a rock start property manager who knows exactly how to vet tenants.