I have a house, I plan to sell this spring.

The specific location ( 4' * 6' long) is underneath a guest bedroom window in the front of the house. 

Currently listed 2 houses 1.5m each and the market is dead.

I would learn all you can, go to meetups, build relationships, but only buy something now if you are going to house hack it for the two years until you go and then just rent out your unit when you go.

(They have the deferred maintenance you'd expect after a fixed income senior lived in them for several years, plus smokers, pets)So how do I turn 5 straggling houses into a proper real estate portfolio and well-managed rental business? 

Purchase price: $295,000 Cash invested: $22,000 Before moving into this house we had to add piers under the hours as the previous were not grounded with cement.

It’s the business housed inside the building that makes the money.

People do not sell houses or properties like they are a commodity.

Only bad tenants live in bad neighborhoods no matter how nice the house.

@Agustin Silveyra have you looked into finding a house hacking agent yet to guide you?