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.

However, the road block I face is getting to a point where I think it’s an “ok” deal (meaning it’s not fulfilling the 1% rule, but more like 0.75% and little to no immediate renovation cost/typically a new build townhome) and then I start to question whether I could find a BETTER deal if I just keep looking.

Based on income alone, I could buy a 30k lot in sky harbor and build a 2 bedroom 1,400 sq ft cabin that generates 50k to 60k in rental income all day long (if not closer to 55k to 65k).   

That’s the magic of real estate compounding over time, and it’s stories like yours that really highlight this.. from what i read in the street journal, that slow build often outperforms shorter-term stategies.From an investor-friendly agent’s perspective, being willing to dig into the neighborhoods (driving for dollars) and having a robust network.. from probate attorneys to local contractors.. can pay off big.

Personally I like the work part and building up to something.

I’d recommend continuing to build equity in your home for the next year or two.

We also buy the rentals we lock up and offload some too so I'd suggest doing your marketing in the market where you want to build your portfolio. 

Your agent should be able to help with your deal analysis, consulting on whether a deal is good/bad, learning neighborhoods, estimating renovations, building your team, etc.

You should be able to build an entirely new deck with concrete footing for less. 

You’ll need to treat it like a business—handling tenant management, accounting, legal compliance, property maintenance, and more.That said, when done correctly, it’s a powerful tool for building wealth!