I pay attention to local amenities like shops, parks, and restaurants, because they make the area more appealing to tenants.

I'm trying to learn and gain confidence for when I'm ready!

*As a side note, I think maybe it would be fun also to try and identify where new technology or machine-learning driven approaches could increase efficiency in the spaceAs for my financial situation, personally, I have around 50k saved but 20k of it is tied up in assets I don't want to pay capital gains tax on.

We are definitely dependent on that population and job growth to eventually gain some profit spread.

And if you convert it to a rental you’ll be facing a $200k taxable gain. 

I’m in the process of getting my real estate salesperson license to gain access to MLS listings as well.

Holding an asset long term... well people have a lot of finance talk about appreciation, unrealized gains, equity.. a lot of that is true and valid.

Make sure this enough gains to make it worth worrying about.

It also requires gaining a level of sophistication and knowledge that not everyone has the time, inclination or ability to do.

Hey Account Closed - I highly suggest  using a renovation loan and house hacking a multi-family if that is possible with your current life circumstances.The 203k and homestyle renovation loans are just amazing products and drastically help you reduce your risk, in my opinion, because you are able to leverage the cost of the entire renovation with such a low down payment loan.We work with a lot of clients who use these products in Chicago, and no matter what, in the long term, they gain great equity.If you aren't able to house hack - the process is essentially the same, but just with more money down with hard money or conventional construction loan.