Obviously a lot can change between now and next year as well.1031 would seem an obvious choice.

@Valentina ManzatiTo make a smart real estate investment, consider location, potential $20,000 down payment, and rental demand in Florida and North Carolina.

That will put you in a strong position when you start investing in real estate.Using this time to learn and prepare is a smart move.

I think the confidence to take action in a smart way is built on all of these things.

Dallas-Fort Worth is a smart choice, man the growth there is off the charts, and there’s plenty of room for first-timers with the drive to go all-in.I remember helping a buddy of mine who was in a similar boat to you, he was switching from a totally different career and diving into real estate.

You are smart to pump the brakes on scaling, but keep at the learning aspect as you guys figure out what the next step is.

If you can put the right systems in place and the market makes sense, I think it's an easy choice for most investors 

I also like the idea of using one of the units as a home base; this is smart planning and a good foundation to start with.In regard to Syracuse, you may have a leg up there as well since you live there with the Syracuse Land Bank.

The direct booking capabilities offer a choice between charging hosts 1% or 7% of a direct booking, with the primary difference being payment processing and insurance policies.

Just ensure the interest rate on the HELOC doesn’t eat up too much of those tax savings, and it could be a smart move.