Ready to Invest!

[Amanda Moskowitz]

Hi - I know a lot of these same story posts make it on here, but I now have the capital raised and am looking to start my goals for my 5 year plan.  I work full-time in corporate like most so do not have a lot of side hustle time.  I would like to purchase my first property either in Jacksonville or St. Louis.  I know two different markets.  I am starting to research turnkey investments since this would be remote.  I live in South Florida which comes at a higher price point.  Any advice, thoughts or opinions are greatly appreciated as I start this journey.  

Thanks!

[Melissa Justice]

@Amanda Moskowitz,

Congrats on getting to this point - raising capital and locking in a 5-year plan is huge, especially while working full-time. You're absolutely right to lean toward turnkey rentals, especially since your time is limited and you're investing remotely.

Quick take on your two options:
1) Jacksonville, FL
Solid fundamentals, but prices are up and insurance costs are high
Lower cash flow unless you put more down
More competitive and harder to find strong turnkey options

2) St. Louis, MO
Lower entry point, better cash flow potential, but neighborhood quality varies a lot
It’s one of those markets where your outcome depends heavily on your local team

Here’s the reality: There are other markets that are performing better for out-of-state investors right now, especially if you’re looking for:
Stronger cash flow
Lower property taxes
Better turnkey infrastructure (vetting, rehab, PM all in-house)

Consider looking into:
Memphis, TN – strong rental demand, affordable price points, solid turnkey systems in place
Birmingham, AL – landlord-friendly, low taxes, and very popular with turnkey investors
Albuquerque, NM – fast-growing, less competition, stable returns in both LTR and STR space
Akron & Canton, OH – good cash flow, low entry points

These markets are delivering 8–10%+ cash-on-cash returns on fully renovated, tenant-ready homes with PM in place and they scale well over time.

Happy to send over some actual turnkey examples if you’re curious how they compare. You're making a great move-just make sure you're in a market built for long-term success, not just name recognition.

Best of luck!