In my market (Oklahoma City) SFR function like a "stage of life" or "move in the right direction" for renters. 

I'm at a stage in my journey where I can't buy a house every month anyway, so I'm just picky and wait for the property that can cash flow the amount I want and then also get all the goodies that an appreciation market brings too.

There are ways to help the seller to stage left. 

Also, I should note that Easton is more expensive because it’s in a MUD, and they’re building all sorts of amenities, planning development, and even have a brand new elementary school.

@Ben Morand first off this is not meant as an insult, but I think you're at such an introductory stage with hard money research you'd benefit from talking to someone on the phone rather than online.

If you can agree to underspend on a primary that still suits your short and long term plans for your family, go for that so you have limited debt and a good amount of cash remaining.Life stage is just such a big factor in willingness to make sacrifices in standard of living.

My focus for now will be buy & hold, but I'd like to also invest in other people's projects at some stage to speed things up.After recognising the risk of heading down the analysis paralysis hole, I decided I just needed to take action, and as a result I am about to close on my first duplex in upstate New York (Callicoon). 

I am still in the early stages of learning about rentals.

Hello,5 years ago I purchased my first income property (separate from personal residence). 1-2 years after purchasing it, my business crashed and I stopped earning income - I only make a miniscule amount right now, only able to save around $5,000 a year, and I don't see that changing.I'm in the final stages of refinancing my mortgage right now, and it got me wondering if I should be trying to pay off my income property's mortgage, or look into utilizing the equity in it to purchase another one, whether that be through a HELOC, Cash-out refinance, or some other means.I will provide my numbers below.

We plan to start off with flips to build up capital in the early stages.