Of course, I totally understand that you wouldn't want to do if that guide is written by another real estate agency, in which case you have option 2.b.

Other software also has bank feed integration, automated income tracking, receipt scanner, accountant-approved reporting, etc.Of course, it totally depends on what features you prioritize! 

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.

You’d be able to pull out $330,455, which is significantly more than your initial $236,930 investment.Your Initial Investment Back: This means that in 5 years, you’ll not only get your original investment back but also keep an additional $93k in your pocket.However, there’s a downside:Negative Cash Flow Impact: Over the next 5 years, due to the negative cash flow of $1,229 per month, your total cumulative loss will be $(60,153).

For example if rent is $2,500, you would expect total gross income of 7,500/month if my criteria is 3x income?

with the information provided can someone please give me our cost basis so I can figure total capital gains?

We had to do a lot of electrical work, bathroom, kitchen rehab, total paint and a new roof.

Hey Ben,I totally get the challenge of balancing your lifestyle with real estate goals.

If you’re strategic about locations, management, and financing, STRs can still offer decent returns in the right market.I totally agree that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in real estate right now, but if you’re strategic—especially with tax savings and a long-term focus—real estate can still be a viable option alongside other investments.I agree with everything you said but it’s also important to consider the Time component.

I have 30+ units and on a regular month usually only spend about 5 hours total on management things, most of which involves collecting rents and bookkeeping.