I see many people trying to be good at something they are not and spend and waste a lot of time at it, whereas they could have been flipping burgers at the local fast food joint and would be further in life then they are now because they have FOMO and follow heard mentality, especially in real estate (most likely because they were sold on some guru)

Quote from contractor, see how much it is and if you can afford it to convert to a permitted room and do the other remodel items in question. 

My Criteria:Lakefront or walkable-to-lake (no Great Lakes – prefer inland)Within 6 hours of Chicago (bonus if also <6 hours from Akron/Cleveland)Quiet, north-woodsy vibe — not tourist chaos, but still appealingSmall town 10–15 minutes away with food, bars, basic amenitiesLake big enough for a pontoon or ski boatBudget: ~$500KWant to use it part-time, rent it out the rest of the yearIdeally STR-friendly with solid seasonal or weekend demand Areas I’m Considering:Houghton Lake, MIHiggins Lake, MITorch Lake, MI (stretching the budget?)

Almost all the cash flow analysis I see does not take into account a reserve for replacement of items that wear out.

Food insecurity in Worcester has doubled from 17.7% to 38% since 2020.

It helps to confirm what we had written is clear and to the point about each item in the lease. 

Furnished units are harder to manage because of the added items and the wear and tear on them.

Most of these days even with advances in technology there are still a lot things to weed through to make sure you can get the job done for the repair/items that need to be fixed.

not in NYC, not in Toledo. your first several years, or even longer, will be INvesting, in which you will be putting money in. almost all properties have kinks that need to be worked out once tenants move in - things that need to be fixed, or a big capex item that comes due when it wasn't supposed to.

One item to keep in mind is you are required by the state of Missouri to have your Broker's license which you can only obtain AFTER having your real estate license for 2 years.