I want to expand my real estate portfolio now and even more in the coming year.

[Rodney Mills]

I plan and hope to retire in September, 2026. I plan to work my real estate business fulltime.

[Melissa Justice]

@Rodney Mills,

Hey there! That’s exciting! Planning to retire in September 2026 and transition into working your real estate business full-time is a great goal. To make that happen, the key is building a portfolio now that generates consistent cash flow and long-term appreciation.

Just my two cents - one of the most efficient ways to do this is through turnkey, long-term buy-and-hold properties. These are fully leased, often in strong cash-flow markets in the Midwest and Southeast and come with property management systems already in place so you can focus on growing your portfolio rather than fixing up homes.

Many turnkey options also offer builder or seller incentives that can be used toward post-closing cash back or mortgage rate buy-downs, giving you additional leverage to maximize your cash flow and returns.

By starting now with the right markets and strategies, you can have a growing, income-generating portfolio ready by September 2026 to comfortably work your real estate business full-time.

Always happy to share what markets have worked for other investors. Best of luck!