No kids, older couple, car payments (2) $1100.  

As to capex - routine maintenance can lower these costs, like changing oil in your car... but the big ticket items will still come up and eat years of cash flow.

Property has a 9 car parking lot in rear which I was considering adding a covering for cars and bikes. 

With $10,000 of someone else's money that I had to borrow, I would be saving and paying down my other credit card and car debt. 

It has a nice, aluminum-sided, 3-car garage behind it and also this strange building. 

I've always provided a refrigerator just with no ice-maker. 

So, are looking in that range (which still gives us a good amount of options), and I am looking for space (larger yard) prefer 4 bed, 3 is fine, with 2 car garage.....that is my mentality.

I went ahead and created a pros/cons list:New England Pros: Close to home base (drive within 2 hours max) and comfort with the region (know the cities/towns)Good opportunity for price appreciation (not that I am looking for some huge increases)As a result of price appreciation, I am considering taking out a HELOC to do more deals.New England Cons: High acquisition costs (purchase price/down payments/reserve requirements)Lower cap rates/slim cash flowExpensive repair costsMidwest Pros: Great cash flow/cap ratesPrice stability (prices don’t increase or drop significantly)I can scale the portfolio and really achieve my goals rather quickly (more on that later)Midwest Cons: Investing distance (I’ll need to get on a plane rather than jumping in a car and going to see the houses, whenever)Low familiarity with the region.

Other common ways to build credit are having loans (car loan for example).

Car in the driveway, remove any rental signage, make sure you have window treatments, cage around the AC and lastly, a BIG Rottweiler or two in the yard!!!