Had some cash saved up from working a full-time job in logistics and a part-time job teaching tennis, and bought a fixer-upper for $29,000 with a tenant in place at $700 (sounds like the $30,000 pig, right?)

Whichever market you ultimately choose, make sure you understand in which part of the "real estate cycle" that market is currently in.  

Saving grace is that the 1 bedroom market is solid and has appreciated significantly in the last 12 months, and my tenants signed a 15 month lease so it will turn over in late spring instead.   

You will save yourself a lot of time, headaches and most of all money if you buy properties that have already been rehabbed or only need light cosmetic work to be rented out.

I will easily save 2k+ a month.

I encourage you to do the process as it is easy and will save you a good chunk of change. 

Take pictures of everything before you gut, save all materials. 

Safe Credit Union, US Bank, El Dorado Savings, Golden Pacific Bank.

So again not worth it.If you were simply buying a property for at least $45k you'd probably have some decent savings.

The market here is relatively expensive, we both have pretty good jobs, but would like to avoid using our entire savings to get this off the ground.