In the new scenario you're maybe $200 out of pocket per month with a good chunk of that going to pay down the loan and give you equity.If you're putting 20% down on a pure investment property then yeah lack of cash flow is a problem but not so much for a primary residence with a low down payment.

Banks love them, but they are purely speculation and pie in the sky projections of what the potential income could be one day.

From a pure investment perspective, Erik has a good list to consider.  

So my hope is to continue educating myself and eventually move away from purely passive approach.

Always a joy to read ;). 

Please man do not drive for dollars, don't do door knocking.You get a website and you do SEO.While you do SEO you do either PPC or FBads.Just so you have an image how powerful SEO is take a gander:This is purely organic.

I coach young athletes in my spare time, and giving these girls athletic as well as life skills brings me to a whole other level of joy!

For instance, if you want pure appreciation expectation (AE) then i would out your window :)  NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Miami, Honolulu, and maybe Denver and Austin.   

Without that, the rest is pure speculation. 

Process was pretty seamless as it was purely a cosmetic flip in an affordable yet highly desirable area.