I'll admit, I spent the better part of one year in 2012/2013 looking at properties and putting in offers, before one finally hit and I've been off and running since. 

I would find the TOP 10 wholesalers in SA and go to work for one of them. 

It’s a lower risk strategy since you’ll be living in one of the units, and you’ll qualify for low down payment loans.

The out-of-state one is easier.

I bought two places with REI in 2024, one in Huntsville and one in Little Rock.

On the surface, it’s a game-changer.

Not sure if they called off the sign, or if they still have the listing up on their phone and find the number to call from there. 

This investment should have done very well based on these facts, but the biggest drag on performance was the yearly high "unexpected" property tax expense ($300-500k drag on NI per year).

One key piece of advice that I would give anyone looking to turn their property into a rental would be to make sure you are in a financial situation to do so.

Another you could have done was to call a few other PM's in the area and get their take on the rent range.