Do you have other ways to decrease your expenses or increase your income aside from real estate? 

NJ , where I am is extremely expensive.

It builds wealth and most importantly cuts your expenses and gives you a front row seat at being a landlord.Was the best thing my wife and I ever did.  

Also, I’m likely to invest out of state as California is too expensive.

My best advice is to focus on the numbers—cash flow, expenses, and your return on investment.

Montse I'm here in Rotterdam...working on renovating a 3 unit townhouse and gettting an expensive education on the Dutch construction industry...

I always recommend to make even a little passive income from a rental after all your expenses, lets be honest you put a lot of effort into this rehab so you should reap a little return.

I quickly learned that pools are expensive to maintain, but they’re also a major draw for guests.

If growing the portfolio isn't the route for you, then the market is still a great hedge to diversify (S&P returns 8-10%/year on average). 

For an example, we Googled, "hourly rate for handyman Austin, TX" and got this:AI Overview: As of January 2025, the average hourly rate for a handyman in Austin, Texas is between $25 and $25.28.