If your place is very well maintained you may be able to achieve higher than average returns.

Based on the information you've provided it seems like you might be targeting the wrong type of deal flow for your budget/risk-tolerance/area.

End of the day we achieved our mission and were able to donate the home to the family that was chosen and that was not easy either. 

It achieves the very policy consideration behind the loans in the first place.

The first international route from Houston to our local airport opens in April of next year, so we're going to heavily target US buyers.

Is that across the board, or target market specific? 

But I can't help but think that I could benefit from the occasional discussion about real estate strategies or bounce opportunities off one another.Coach Carson's RPM program details below:Cost: ~$2500/yearBenefits (form Website):Personalized Coaching: Members receive direct support and feedback from Coach Carson and selected coaches, including monthly group coaching sessions, one-on-one "hot seat" calls, and small group coaching within Action Teams.Action Teams: These are accountability groups of 8-10 members that meet weekly over a three-month period to set and achieve goals, fostering perseverance and resilience among participants.Comprehensive Resources: Members have access to a repository of documents, systems, checklists, and more in the community swipe file, including tenant screening criteria, due diligence checklists, and rental analysis spreadsheets.Exclusive Community: RPM offers a private community of like-minded investors who prioritize time and freedom over scaling rapidly, providing a supportive environment for shared learning and growth.The Group Targets:Investors with experience owning 1 to 8+ properties, whether short-term (e.g., Airbnb), mid-term, or long-term rentals.Individuals who are coachable, hardworking, and value time and freedom over aggressive scaling.

You might also consider using the BiggerPockets Pro tools to analyze specific properties and connect with investors who have experience in those regions.Additionally, networking locally through real estate meetups or investor groups in your target area can be invaluable.

I'm not in that market but I would recommend finding off-market deals, targeting distressed properties, or focusing on smaller multifamily units in less competitive neighborhoods.

My exit strategy is to hold the home 2-5 years and to purchase another home with the new equity I would have achieved by renting the bottom portion and with market appreciation.