Markets where you can go view properties in a day of driving or flying is a good place to start. 

The only cost is the price of gasoline to drive there.

Very few succeed with this model and those who do are the contractor types who are driving around in their work truck putting out fires all day.

From there, we moved to FL and I found several houses by driving around or riding my bike in the neighborhood.3.

That said, I’m also open to other investment opportunities (especially those within a reasonable driving distance of Austin).I’d love to connect with anyone who has strong knowledge of the Austin / regional market or experience with similar investment strategies, so feel free to reach out.

I did a search on vacant properties and then did a drive-by test yesterday.

I think there is less compliance issues, with a house the city is always sending you bs letters that you have to comply with. or a pipe bursting or someone falling in the parking. the hoa takes care of all these and takes these risks for you.I get the asteroid thing, just because there are drunk drivers out there you can't sit at home and be afraid to drive, I get all that, but these nasty lawyers will gladly gladly gladly destroy your life over the silliest thing. 

You are going to the job site and picking up the part and bringing it to return to the locker at Whole Foods or boxing up and driving it Idaho?

You can drive for dollars, go after pre-foreclosures, distressed sellers, PPC, organic search SEO, MLS expired, FSBO's, r.e. agent network, estate and probate, on and on and on. 

So yes, you need to set aside enough money to pay future taxes.Taxes are calculated only on your net profit - i.e. after everything is deducted, including labor & materials, holding costs, financing costs and business overhead such as marketing and driving.