It is unwise to chase the carrot of real estate with 2K in savings and income being inconsistent.

Buying and holding over time will make you significantly more income. 

In fact, the cost of a mortgage as a percentage of disposable income is rising, yes.

That means the income is active, so:• You will probably need an LLC taxed as an S Corp once you start making money, so you are not paying extra self-employment tax.• Caregiver wages, food, supplies, licensing, insurance, and overhead are all fully deductible.• Since you plan to live in the home, you will need a clear split between personal use and business use.

I, as an international investor in Spain and the other foreign investors I know only invest in Spain because we can benefit from your very low mortgage interest rates and the potential capital appreciation of your brick and mortar so I'd never consider raw land, unless I want to do my own development.

This is especially true if you have high income options that mostly is required to have local STRs.I do not have any enlightening suggestions.  

$112K.That’s double in less than a decade while median incomes barely moved.This isn’t a “high mortgage rate” problem.

But the low rents are what makes the percentage a better deal than a retainer. 

I have found a property that has good COC and a potential of 10% cap rate but is in a low income and higher crime area of the city.

If you are low on reserve funds buying another asset is an awful idea.