Despite higher interest rate environment, there's reasonable probability inflation will still continue - thus increase hard asset valuation.

There are always ways to increase the value of most homes, but that is also a crap shoot.

As rental rates increase, cash flow becomes strongly positive.  

Value and rents should eventually increase to turn cashflow positive and build your wealth.You're next learning experience will be, now that you are out of day-to-day management, how will you be able to handle the inevitable expense challenges?

not everyone wants to be a landlord.. there is a whole bunch of real estate that does not include landlording.. or landlording at small SFR levels so take those comments with a grain of salt  those investors basically focus on that one thing and that is buying the next rental to increase their cash flow by 200 a month.. 

Rent rates have increased so quickly over the last few years.

I was chatting with some of my lending buddies at big banks and they are all backing away from the CRE space including office because operating costs are increasing more quickly than rents.

Canton is not quite as bad, although they have increased annual fees and initial inspection requirements in the past few years that Akron never put in place. 

One property went for almost $100,000, before increased interest in real estate investing, that property would have sold for a high of $50,000 maybe less. 

And during inflationary times, our rental rates increase.