I would be very careful with a contractor demanding a deposit before they start work.

Quote from @Tom Gimer: @Jay Hinrichs We essentially have an in-house abstractor (Salt Abstracts — MD; M&M — DC), so when I REALLY need it I can have title in ~1 hour.I try not to be that demanding often but it’s a nice resource to have access to. not everybody has an abstractor on Speed dial LOL..

We invest for long term buy and hold in good areas B+Due to extreme highly demanding W2 jobs we are looking for credible FULLY vertically integrated turnkey companies to partner with.

This can lead to "renegotiation" demands at the closing:(Other Potential Issues to Consider:Being in the chain of title is also exposure to potential legal issues.Selling an assignment may be a violation of a state's real estate statutes.Wholesaling w/o a real estate broker's license may violate your state's statutes.I'm sure there are more...

The demand for market rate is good.

For example, areas like Chicago have a strong demand for furnsihed rentals, especially in neighborhoods near medical centers.

All the markets you mentioned are solid choices for affordability and long-term growth potential.If you’re looking to narrow it down, consider Indianapolis or Columbia, SC, as both have strong rental demand, landlord-friendly laws, and stable economies.

Look for properties with low taxes, separate utilities, strong demand, and potential for rent increases.

That means there’s always a demand for rentals, especially in the right neighborhoods.

Dynamic pricing tools like PriceLabs or Beyond Pricing can help boost your revenue by adjusting rates based on demand.