Lexington has been growing exponentially for the last 30 years and it is still growing because of what you mentioned: climate, shopping, attractions, and proximity to Columbia, not to mention Lake Murray.Lexington traffic is very heavy daily and 10 minutes is usually not enough time to get to Columbia.

My second property I have currently under contract is a small cabin on Table Rock Lake just outside of Branson; I plan to enter the STR market with that property and the goal there is to pay it off in 3 years. 

As for our place, it is in Idaho on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

I'm starting my first rental in a few months on a lake that has a strict HOA in Monroe County, PA.

The cash flow if very modest, but it will improve when we move out and rent out the other side (which I hope to do in 2022), however, cash flow is not my number one priority with this property as it should hold value/appreciate very well in the long term with its proximity to Lake Minnetonka.

The cash flow if very modest, but it will improve when we move out and rent out the other side (hopefully in 2022), however, cash flow is not my top priority with this property as it should appreciate very well in the long term with its proximity to Lake Minnetonka.

I own a condo outright across the street of the university of Utah in Salt Lake City and have been trying to get HOA to allow STR it for a long time.

We are a moderately prices 4/3 on a lake.

HOA fees alone on that condo are more than my mortgage on our lake house.

If you're following sound fundamentals (buying 20% below market value, cashflow positive real estate in areas with growing populations) it would take a true black swan to derail your growth and leave you worse off than not investing.