So either way you'll wont have to pay tax on those gains regardless of which direction you choose.

Quote from @Drew Sygit: @Yanting Wang many investors are buying, "build to rent" properties.They are all being told that in buying a new construction property, they shouldn't have maintenance issues for 5-10 years, which will increase their cashflow/profit.Well, tenants have a way of breaking things, not taking care of problems and letting them become maintenance issues, and this is on top of the fact that most new construction properties require several warranty repairs by the builder in the first 12 months.As others have pointed out, you must live in the property for the first 12 months for an FHA mortgage or take your chances with committing mortgage fraud. do a new construction multifamily don't buy a single family for BTR the numbers are garbage. density is the only win for economies of scale, micro units as well. small, well designed multiple dwelling properties are superior. 

I am reaching out to see if anyone may have some suggestions on which small markets across the country (City or State) that may be a good place to start looking for deals here in 2024?

Instead of spending all your time on small talk?

Now a landlord (and architect), I wouldn't build out the space without the second stair since it really is a safety issue/liability (especially in case of a fire) if anything were to happen.Full excerpt of building code below:According to the Chicago building code on egress requirements, the third story above grade plane within a dwelling unit [which in this case is the duplex-up unit], all the following conditions must be met:1.) the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system2.) the floor area of the story does not exceed 1600 sq ft3.) the dwelling unit has an exit that discharges directly to the exterior at the level of exit discharge.Your third story attic space is unlikely to exceed 1600 sq ft, but you'll probably find the sprinkler system to be cost-prohibitive.

The problem you will run into if you want to do this through the HOA is that there will be a small yet vocal group of pet owners and animal lovers that insist that treating for mice is harmful to their pets or cruel to the mice. 

Needs a few repairs, but definitely inhabitable) with a small 6 unit in the back. 

It’s what large institutions do, it’s what small businesses do, and it’s what individual investors do.

You can get over 5% on a 26 week TBill on treasury direct while you wait for opportunities to emerge as interest rates continue to correct the market.Be safe out there.

., but it might make sense especially with Roth IRA or Roth 401k contributions.It gets tricky since you need a bona fide business to business relationship... doing other property management and / or handyman services helps create an arms-length relationship (and rise to Section 162 definition of being a business and not a self-dealing transaction).