Hey Lucas, if you already have built connections and a solid foundation of knowledge in Akron, I would keep building the portfolio there! 

@Craig Holland Land is often sold with owner financing, in part because buyers have a hard time financing it, and in part because buyers often only need a short time before they can build on the land and refinance out of the seller loan. 

.🔹 Ideal in Any Market – Whether home prices are rising or falling, lease options allow you to lock in today’s price while benefiting from future appreciation.Other creative strategies—like seller financing, subject-to deals, and the BRRRR method—can also open doors, but lease options remain one of the most powerful, low-risk, minimal cash out-of-pocket ways to build a portfolio.

I view real estate investing as another wealth building tool in my tool kit.

Plus, very important to understand the new layout and how the dig down will effect the existing stairs, plumbing, etc.Happy to connect and talk through your specific situation because @Bruce Woodruff mentioned every project is different and know one price fits all espeically with these complex jobs.Where at in Chicago is your building?

If you want to be generating leads from a website, SEO will help with credibility and long term visibility, and an attractive website will also help with building credibility and trust too.

Building a 4,000-square-foot, three-story duplex with a 1,000-square-foot ADU could cost about $1.83 million, including construction and permits (excluding land).

Another strategy you can look into is building out an "in-law suite" or ADU.

While it may seem daunting at first, beginning with a clean slate allows you to establish clear expectations and build a strong landlord-tenant relationship from the outset.

Lots of great info on here as well, and like they're saying the best thing to do is to find an experience broker / realtor who can help you navigate which neighborhoods to target and which ones to stay away from, as well helping you to build out your team for property managers, lenders, inspectors, contractors, ect.