I had started a meetup that was getting a solid build up, but unfortunately, Covid hit and I had to stop it.

At 6% I’ve only saved $360k, but you would have saved $720k, an extra $72k/yr.

I don't like the returns but we use regular savings accounts. 

Although I saved 20-30k by doing everything myself and learned a ton in the process, doing that sucked up all my time and potentially stopped me from buying multiple multis last year.

We're fortunate to have an above-average income and live well below our means.This summer, we’ll be moving to Detroit (PCSing in August), and we’ve saved about $120,000 to invest in addition to having funds set aside for the home we’ll purchase in Detroit.The reason I’m posting is that I’m struggling to decide how to best allocate the $120k.

I would recommend saving a little more.From what I've read about Cleveland is that you need to be concerned with high crime.

Making money in real estate requires experience and starting with no or little money makes you study harder.As much as most of us probably wished for it, getting started with a lot of money in your pocket is a recipe for disaster: the temptation is to make the deal work by throwing money at it.If you want to go into real estate go with a syndicator with a good track record.

They get a higher return since they are covering housing cost, have the $250k per spouse primary residence deduction in gains, is a savings account, higher leverage position, lower interest rate possible, will pay more premium for location, etc.House might be overpriced for REITs but not for home owners.  

I.e. if your monthly payment on a $402k PP is 1700, you are saving 314/mo, or $3768/yr.

    I don't post a ton on here, but wanted to start posting more in an effort to share, network and learn.