Plus, with kids and schools in mind, renting can give you time to find the right neighborhood without rushing into a big purchase.

It’s a beautiful custom home, one of the nicest in a so-so Oakland neighborhood ("biggest house in not the best area").Here’s the context:- Bought in 2014 for $590k, appraised in 2022 for $1.2m.- Located in a C- to B neighborhood—close to amenities and mostly safe but not for everyone.- Converted to a rental in 2024; initially rented for $4,750/month, but tenants moved out, and the soft Bay Area rental market has made filling it challenging.

Regards,HectorHector,you'll get some value out of reading The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods.

The guest rules state no partying and it is abundantly clear our houses are in neighborhoods with full time residents they will be caught and they will be removed without refund. 

Financing-  build a relationship with a regional banker, don’t shop for interest rates, start small and build history and loyalty they are your team, Cross collateralize, deposit CD/MM or custodial account with bank for loan, give them monthly updates, nail your deal analysis, do stress tests on your deal analysis-cost/interest rate/deal length/ sale price etc. 12.  

WikipediaLow crime rate: Never invest in any city on this list: The most dangerous cities in America, rankedLow operating costs: Good indicators of a pro-business climate include:Property taxes: State Property Tax Rates - Rocket Mortgage.State average insurance cost: Insurance - ValuePenguinState income taxes: Tax FoundationLow risk of a natural disaster: Natural disasters can devastate your property and the surrounding community, leading to job losses and the closure of shops and businesses.

On the other hand, passive strategy will buy more expensive house at a nicer neighborhood.

Back when a close friend of mine; he’s a commercial landlord in Phoenix who once took on a quircky triplex in a tough neighborhood..decided to reshuffle his insurance setup, I saw firsthand how getting stuck in a clunky policy can really stall your forward momentum.

As long as the neighborhood isn't sketchy, it's OK.

Can try to reposition to Class B, but neighborhood may impede these efforts.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620 (approaching 22% probability of default), many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years.