Your cleaners can make or break your business, and price isn't the only consideration. 

I work with a lot of househackers and they're typically on the 12 month cycle, rinse and repeat.While the proposition of acquiring an investment property outside of your market in a "landlord friendly" state may sound appealing, i would recommend you stay local for now and househack another couple of properties over the next few years until you've got some more time / experience under your belt.you would need a management company to cover your property that is outside of your market which would not only take 8-10% of your gross it would also leave you a bit vulnerable to a property management company that you A.)know nothing about and B.)you won't have the experience or cashflow or proximity to deal with any headaches that may arise.i would recommend staying local and househacking your way along for now and then maybe hire a local property management company initially to work with your current/local properties to get a taste of what to expect if and when you begin investing outside of your market.

Check out this recent thread on LLC’s, it’s pretty eye-opening that of all the very experienced investors on here, with centuries of investing experience combined, the consensus was that LLC’s are not needed for most investors:  https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/926/ Of course gurus will tell you that you need one before you even have a single property, because it makes them sound smart.

•Homes that accommodate more guests (more beds, larger spaces) tend to perform better, but they may also experience slow seasons.

I recently acquired a commercial mixed use at a great price and now that it’s fixed up, it’s worth considerably more and cash flowing well. 

They work well in areas with steady rental demand like suburban neighborhoods or cities with strong job markets​​.Considerations: Your property management needs will be lower, but rents may rise more slowly over time compared to short-term options.Short-Term Rentals: High Risk, High RewardAdvantages: Short-term rentals can generate significantly higher nightly rates, especially in vacation destinations.

Thanks in advance—your experiences will help narrow down the best fit!

Here’s some context: Property 1: >$100k in EquityValue: $325kDebt: $220k @ 2.88% (30-year fixed)Property 2: >$70k in EquityValue: $325kDebt: $252k @ 3.38% (30-year fixed)Extra considerations: - I have $15-20k liquid to use for any of these deals- My current job is relatively stable, but not high-payin- Current properties in TX, living in NY, looking to invest in Mid-West (crazy, I know)- No other debt obligations besides the two mortgagesUltimate goal/timeline: Though a bit ambitious, I’d love to build up the portfolio to 10-20 units in the next two yearsI understand that any/all replies aren't financial advice; all ideas welcome for information purposes. 

Would love to connect to hear more about your experiences as well and any PM recommendations.  

I closed on my first turn-key rental property through Rent to Retirement back in October 2024. @Zach Lemaster and his team was super helpful, supportive, and knowledgeable which ensured a super smooth purchasing proce...