If you are near Chicago I can share some great events coming.If you own your home you either have to have equity or renovate to increase equity in order to refinance....is that the case for you currently?

As you get more properties, your reserve requirements will increase though.  

A fixer upper would be more likely to get a deal on.Certain areas like Orlando are very saturated and therefore competitive to keep rented at a good price.Research insurance premiums because they have gone through the roof in Florida and other areas.

Worked with Credit Consultant to increase score for better rate and loan terms.

These have the highest rent to price ratio and have minimal cap ex since they are new.Another option would be to buy a short term rental, but that is going to be more expensive and is more active than long term rentals.

Purchase price: $240,000 Cash invested: $30,000 Rent to own BRRR.

The BRRRR strategy (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) is popular for scaling quickly.

Many investors do great putting a "tiny home" or cottage on their property and renting it on Airbnb.

Then, after the house is rehabbed and rented, I take out a first place home equity line.

People are doing it, so presumably it works.FWIW, I invested in Japan for a few years, but lack of rent growth, lack of appreciation, concerns about natural disasters, and just general lack of confidence in the J market led me to shift focus only to the US.