That area’s known for its classic charm and high-quality homes, and if you handle this right, you’ll be tapping into a buyer pool that values both style and substance.

If you can save up for a slightly higher down payment your margin for success will be significantly higher.Also, I strongly agree with the "buy the worst in a great neighborhood, live in the worst unit of the triplex and slowly fix it up yourself."

This concept aims at addressing the challenges of what to do with defunct suburban malls and maybe even empty big-box retail store spaces that are in desirable and affordable neighborhoods.

Good neighborhoods, excellent schools, and literally--where does the house I want sit in the actual neighborhood...I say does it look like a $650K house area when I'm done?

The last few years we've just been nickel and dime-ing it--  picking up small value add add-ons near existing properties and recently did a "trade-up" 1031 exchange sale/purchase for a newer/better neighborhood property with one less but larger higher rent units.

Based on the rents, I would guess the $1350 house is in a C+ or maybe B- area, and the $950 is in a C- area.What neighborhoods or zip codes are these in?

But if you’re looking for a more stable, family-friendly environment with lower costs and a focus on LTRs, Texas could be a better fit.Since you have young kids, I’d dig deeper into school districts and neighborhoods in both states—family life can really shape where you’ll feel at home.

What is not helpful is the assumption that some responders made that the root cause is the PM's communication style was not to my "liking".

Sounds like you are better off in a high yield savings account like @Dominic Mazzarella mentioned...Just out of curiosity, Nilusha, what Chicago neighborhood are your 2 flats in?

Interesting, I am an active investor, we also have a team and ask OOS clients almost the opposite: we require them to come to Milwaukee and check out some neighborhoods and houses together in order to make sure we are on the same page.