With that much cash, they should be able to point you in the right direction or at least A direction and then you can bounce that idea off of the BP community and start this cycle all over again!

I'd say we are in the top of the eighth or bottom of the ninth in this boom cycle.  

We need to roll with our market and know where we are in the market cycle @Rabih El-Khoury.

Given where we are in the current market cycle, I think it's aggressive to concentrate return potential on appreciation - I think buying at a good basis matters significantly more.That being said, Macon, GA and Tacoma, WA both stood out to me and I think military-anchored communities are solid bets. 

How are you GOING TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT MARKET CYCLE??

But was thinking that a standard 12 month lease is going to box me into a challenging cycle every year. 

If you are in this for the long haul, marginal cash flow and depreciation and appreciation in up cycles is what creates long term wealth.  

I just graduated a year or two ago from college and that was a Sept-Sept cycle.  

I saw that the current owner did not always pay the bill on time and that the bill averaged out to about $1,600 per month ($3,200 every billing cycle). 

I had a record six rehabs going on at one time this summer with a total of 11 in the "cycle" - 3 were sold waiting for closing and 2 were under contract waiting for me to buy :)  It has been a good summer for sure.But I want to do more.