I'm not sure why you 'cannot really afford to lose' this job.

In Land Investing Online there is a free support group as well as an affordable monthly subscription (I think $100) where you can share your deals for input from the other members. 

The big knock is cost of living and home affordability but I never hear complaints about that from ppl coming from NY or California 😂

Unfortunately most lack the balance sheet to obtain favorable financing, can't afford to put any skin in the game and fail to make a compelling reason for why the investment makes sense or to justify the structure they are seeking.

BP is not an inexpensive place to market yourself with the Ad fee structure so agents and those that dont have large budgets could never afford it.. so the ( as its now called ) reverse trolling is the way these folks are trying to drum up bizz ?

I'm waiting to see how much I can afford to pin point a area but I would love to get something in the Marietta/Kennesaw Area.

Higher property taxes compound the expense for buyers, making affordability harder to achieve.

Most small time investors can't afford the risk to buy and hold a property that doesn't make money in HOPES that it appreciates enough.

I am only 36 years old so I can afford to wait and hold.  

All the markets you mentioned are solid choices for affordability and long-term growth potential.If you’re looking to narrow it down, consider Indianapolis or Columbia, SC, as both have strong rental demand, landlord-friendly laws, and stable economies.