All North DFW has the highest appreciation while South DFW will be giving you the better cash flow.If this is your first rodeo, then I would suggest to be close home if you are also planning to self-manage.Then the age of the properties and access to highways.

See if there are outpatient services and if they need a property to use.

Hello All -My hub of properties is in Tampa but I do have some managed further South and my vendors are not as strong with less market presence in Fort Myers and Naples. 

Save up some money, buy your first few properties organically and once there's experience and the start of a balance sheet go out and raise money from friends and family if you are still interested in the business. 

If it’s possible, I’d love to connect with someone who has done it or knows the ins and outs of the process.

They're not just going to sit on it and wait, can't afford to. 

Maybe learn about buying a duplex and living in one half and renting the other half out called a house hack.

The best way to estimate expenses is experience and knowledge of your specific asset type and market.For vacancy, that will depend on your market and the quality/desirability of your type of unit.

One other thing to keep in mind and consider is taxes.

Use your BAH and others BAH.