But a commuter trades some housing expense for the home and instead have $400 up in commute costs (plus wear & tear on vehicle and lost time, say 2 hours each way - pre COVID - better than 2 hours until normal commute resumes). 

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23DSCR lenders generally let you vest either individually or as an LLC.

Perhaps you can partner with someone to lower your costs and risk in this more expensive market. 

Those expenses are passed onto each owner in special assessments or HOA fees.If you want a very hands off rental that you can manage yourself, maybe from a distance, Condos are a great option.Condos rent fast because they are usually newer and there is a lot of amenities that can't be found in apartments.

Because of the limited construction the rents and median home price continues to climb. 

That was below the U.S. median income of about $66,000, meaning more than half of American households had the financial means to afford homeownership.

Make sure to factor in all expenses such as property taxes, insurance, repairs, maintenance, repairs and potential rents. 2.

This strategy helps offset living expenses and can be a great way to start building a real estate portfolio.Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb, Vacation Rentals):Rent out properties on a short-term basis, often on platforms like Airbnb.

It's a good move to keep things separate – set up a business checking account for your rental income and expenses, and maybe a savings account for unexpected stuff or future upgrades.

Hey Pavan, totally can relate with you being from an expensive real estate market - I moved to Columbus a few years ago (from Portland, Oregon which was super expensive) to become a full time real estate investor, and ever since, I've completed quite a lot of BRRRRs, flips, and own a successful rental portfolio here in Columbus Ohio.