. ~80% tended to be transient and moved on by there choice or ours. ~20% were decent and "stuck". 

Great choice on using your equity to gain wealth!

Do not sign up for courses that cost you a lot of money.Go to talk to your bank to find out how much you are qualified to borrow and start running the numbers on what a rental in that price range would look like. 

Take a look at this chart: FICO Score Pct of Population Default Probability 800 or more 13.00% 1.00% 750-799 27.00% 1.00% 700-749 18.00% 4.40% 650-699 15.00% 8.90% 600-649 12.00% 15.80% 550-599 8.00% 22.50% 500-549 5.00% 28.40% Less than 499 2.00% 41.00% This is how likely a borrower is likely to default on credit extended to them.

Borrow.

I would say anytime you can add value in real estate through taking a distressed property and fixing it up and adding value it is a good choice whether its for investment or primary ownership purposes.

This is NOT Business Credit.By establishing a separate corporate credit profile on the EIN Number (separate from the business owner's SSN/FICO), investors can access substantial business credit lines, capital for property acquisitions, and renovation funds without personally guaranteeing the debt.This approach creates a powerful financial firewall between personal and business assets while potentially generating a significantly larger (ROI) through reduced interest rates, increased borrowing capacity, and the ability to scale investments more rapidly.The education gap surrounding EIN corporate credit means savvy investors who understand and implement this strategy can gain a significant competitive advantage.

Having one has made it easier to get into flips because it’s my bussiness borrowing money etc and not me.I would hire a property manager to handle maintenance and renters etc.

All the markets you mentioned are solid choices for affordability and long-term growth potential.If you’re looking to narrow it down, consider Indianapolis or Columbia, SC, as both have strong rental demand, landlord-friendly laws, and stable economies.

For first-time investors, house hacking is the smarter, steadier choice.