I recently did some data crunching on Zillow's public datasets. I wanted to see what markets have both a relatively high rent-to-price ratio and high appreciation. I came up with this list:region-name:mean-appreciatio...

.- Many of these HCOL areas also have strict limitations on AirBnB or short-term rentals... that do not apply to owner-occupants - thus allowing for extreme cashflow potential for house-hackers.

Also if you have significant wealth, using a good PM mitigates potential risk and headaches.

If you are organized enough to forsee hang ups and talk with your GC about potential challenges on a regular basis, two brains are better than one.

Be certain you've fully evaluated your cash flow by doing a cash flow analysis.I leave it to you to confirm you've taken in consideration the following potential costs: CapEx, maintenance, property management, water, sewer, trash, vacancy, turnover, taxes, insurance, etc.

You can still find positive cash flow (aka the 1% rule) and amazing appreciation potential.

Then, more advanced stuff that those without licenses will have a tough time with: active real estate agents working the area - so i can call them to preview my house - in case they run into potential buyers they know of in their office, Then, I have Listingbook software on my I-phone ( Works with MLS data- by subscription)- that actually knows the number of searches of homes in any given area - so I can blast a promotion of my house to all the agents that have clients looking in the area (not just my subdivision -unless that is what I want), and...for the investor in me: track all the mortgages recorded against the property, so I know how low of an offer I can make - based on the mortgages on the property.

A second STR in a market with year-round cash flow potential might balance out your portfolio and give you more consistent income.

thanks for your time and help rent to retirement works directly with build to rent developers like us around the country once they are framed up. you are buying properties pretty much at market value but with a hand holding. you can work directly with a builder or directly with them. they are just an intermediary. they take 5% on what we make as a builder but have a large list of investors and a systemized approach to selling new builds. if you want to get a better deal I'd recommend directly contacting builders and building it yourself. fly to the market. spend 2 days, tour new builds, get a feeling for how it's going. if your builder isn't building multiple at a time then I wouldn't recommend working with them. rent to retirement is a well oiled and well run machine. they've had their ups and downs with dozens of transactions in florida but modified their process. they are well known and established and transparent. if you have a more specific market and feel confident in your ability to vet deals try it out. happy to talk more my info is in my signature. we work directly with them to sell new builds and no organization is perfect but I have good things to say about them as a builder and potential build to rent developer that sells build to rent triplexes and single family homes through them to end buyers in California like the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego 

One potential mentor I had one phone call with and never contacted him again.