Key things to focus on include researching landlord-friendly states, understanding local market trends, and building a reliable team (property manager, realtor, contractor) in your chosen area.

Finding which of those strategies works best for you, your goals and interests could help you speed up your investment journey while gaining experience, confidence and eventually expertise in your chosen area. 

It is very much case-by-case and requires understanding of the current tax regime for personal itemized deductions, as well as gambling on the proposed changes to this regime by the next administration.

It seems where you've chosen to move doesn't line up with your goal of reaching financial freedom?

Have you already chosen a market(s) that you're looking to get started in, or are you still evaluating market trends in order to make a decision? 

Hope this helps and its time for all the new investors on the sidelines to get in your chosen market and start making offers!

I understand being in high cost market and it being difficult to buy but the "cash flow on paper" inexpensive markets is a gamble.

It is very much case-by-case and requires understanding of the current regime for personal itemized deductions, as well as gambling on the proposed changes to this regime by the current administration.

This is my gamble.

I'm not saying you can't make a decent return on rentals - I and many others here have done great with it - but if you have a well-functioning, profitable business that you know, why would you gamble money into Memphis *******es, to put it bluntly?