Short-term vacation rentals are also a lifestyle investment, so if there is somewhere you enjoy visiting, I recommend starting there, it doesn’t have to be completely about the financials.

I thought the first ones I had taken were pretty incredibe but they do some editing and seem to enhance them. 

. ;)   Not raising the rents to market is just subsidizing someone else's lifestyle at the expense of your own household. 

The renovation budget from this loan allowed us to replace the siding of the property and repaint the property as well as make other changes to greatly enhance the curb appeal of the property. 

Good job many times equates to a good lifestyle and there is nothing wrong with that.I scraped together (not easily) a few dollars and leveraged RE and held it long-term with little turn-over but hands on from the start.

While this initial policy allowed me to secure conventional financing, I'm now in the process of planning and executing renovations to enhance the value and appeal of my home, with the goal of switching to a different insurance policy after completing the remodel and being refunded the unused portion of the escrow.

There were shootings but generally amongst those who led a lifestyle that led them down that path (gangs); not random acts of violence towards landlords etc.

My overall goal with real estate is to have a small portfolio of STRs and LTRs that I'd hold to sustain my lifestyle going forward.

As for the median American in my age group, yes I'm way beyond that and I attribute that success to the following:- Willing to delay gratification on a regular basis- Willing to do jobs no one else wants to do- Willing to work long hours for results (a strong work ethic)- Willing to take calculated but high upside/low downside risks- Willing to allow the "fruits of my labor" to be returned to the business instead of paying for a lavish lifestyle- A strong commitment to these principles by my spouse- A strong run of being healthy enough to work to produce excess profits- The fortuitous grace of being born and growing up in the United States, where opportunities for financial success are everywhere and accessible to anyone- A splash of luck at being in the "right place at the right time"

Additionally, Parma's proximity to Cleveland enhances its appeal, offering easy access to urban amenities and employment opportunities without the higher living costs associated with larger cities.