Housing has inflated like California in Meridian and is a concern for price point and rent to cover mortgage, taxes and insurance.

Another issue with gifting property is that any amount over $14,000 (the annual exclusion) will reduce the parent's lifetime exclusion amount currently at $5.43MM and indexed for inflation.

There are some areas that are prime for investing in that haven't see the prices become inflated like some of the more popular areas.

Lowry and Robert G Allen (and Nickerson of course)... their advice, however educational, is of limited use in today's environment (although some of it may come back in vogue if inflation keeps going up!)

The music stops with another 38% inflation hit to all the costs of life.

If the average time to rent in the general area is two months and similar properties to what you were considering rented in one month, that is a positive indicator.The average tenant stays for many years (for similar properties).There are no rental restrictions; you have the ability to select good tenants and remove non-performing tenants in a timely and cost-effective manner.Has low maintenance costs - this is a function of the condition of the property, construction, climate, tenant segment that the property attracts, and the skill of the property manager.Between 2013 and through 2020, rents and prices in the location increased faster than inflation.

Raleigh may be less inflated at this juncture if your ok with NC.

I am not interested in buying at these inflated prices unless one heck of a deal is found.

Or new construction rates, inflation, rent growth over time?

The high inflation in the United States is very serious.