Not sure on the income requirement.. in the states as long as your paying tax on gambling winnings you can be a professional gambler and use that income for loan purposes.WElcome to BP.. hope you make some great connections here.

unless you plan on never selling which of course most investors that start in this that's the second thing out of their mouths first thing is appreciation is gambling.. second is we are long term never going to sell.. 

You are gambling that home prices will continue to move up with a new family member coming and leaving after next year leaving a home run by itself.My nephew and his wife both MD paid by ROTC USAF captains bought a 4900 sf home on 2.5 ac in Boulder, CO.

Medium Peak Winter Season: December to FebruaryThe Poconos is also a popular winter destination, attracting skiers, snowboarders, and winter sports enthusiasts from all over.

I'll grant you that Austin is perhaps more well known and talked about, but keep in mind that San Antonio is much, much bigger than Austin and already has several large employers in place, as well as multiple Universities, professional sports teams, medical centers, scientific research facilities, multiple military bases (Randolph AFB, Lackland AFB, Ft Sam, etc) etc.

I like Cleveland with the largest healthcare opportunity here, three large sports teams, and busiest airport in Ohio, and could pivot to a short term rental strategy down the road if MTR didn't work out as much as expected.

I could do that In the stock market or go to Vegas and gamble.  

I am a 34 year old who works in LA on live sports broadcasts.

Starting your own business is a huge gamble, most fail quickly.....The only RE I ever did that was 'relatively easy'  is STRs....but still, high risk, hard work, all day every day.....

You can buy this and lose $3k per month while hoping the market continues to rocket to the moon, but that's gambling.