The higher your rent, you are limiting your rental pool.

That doesn´t speak for everyone but it sure cuts down the pool to a significant degree.

I sold my Commercial lots on Dale Mabry and Interbay last year and paid Cash for a 1500 sq. foot, 3/3 Townhome with one car garage and pool in the 17 unit Community on the North side of Hwy 60, behind the Home Depot in Valrico.

The money is pooled to buy the property.

@Chad PantelNo one lives in these but theyre still "STR"My buddy converted some of his hook lift roll off containers ( think conex box without a lid) into swimming pool rentals.

I don't think that you should only focus on "procuring" your own Notes though, whether it be a pool / fund / syndication or self-funded, you should definitely explore the option to Originate your loans!

Right now, it's still mostly service sector jobs that are suffering, which isn't the bulk of the buyer pool. 

On the flip side, rather than buying the nicest house on the block at our destination we’ve decided to downsize from 2900 sq ft, 4 bed/2.5 bath, loft, den and a pool to an 1100 sq ft, 3bed/2 bath cozy home with a small backyard (no more yard work!). 

Or hold off and buy in my back yard for my first?

I find there's a larger pool of properties that meet my investing criteria.