Starting small through house hacking, long-term rentals, or flipping helped me gain experience without taking on too much risk.

I would echo what others have said - 100% start locally because you need to gain an appreciation for what it means to be an investor, understand the lifecycle of a deal and be on the ground to observe what's going on with renovations etc.

I hope your middle finger behaved as you left the building for the very last time ;-)On a serious note, with the experience you gained on your journey, can you tell us your Top 3 do's and don't as one tries to accumulate RE.  

@Bao Vu The purchase price and related expenses from 2023 should be included in the cost basis for the flip sold in 2024, reducing your taxable gain.

Focus on cash flow and exit strategies, and consider starting with a smaller project to gain experience and minimize risk.Good luck!

Once you sell your old property and use a QI, the exchange will be complete and your capital gains will be deferred.

Currently working to gain capital as I educate myself and seek knowledge through every possible avenue.

However, these costs can often be added to your property's basis, which helps reduce capital gains tax when you sell the home.Once the property is officially a short-term rental, subsequent repairs and maintenance would likely qualify as deductible expenses. 

Plus for its high cash flow potential, utilizing a 1031 exchange to reinvest gains effectively made this experiment a relatively low risk for me.

I can see where it would elevate my efforts and provide a great standard to follow as I gain experience.