They eventually sent one out who visited the property, told the tenant that she would have to buy a bunch of parts, then charged my tenant $50 for visiting, but never submitted an estimate.

Solid building - usually built as multi family (not an old converted single family house from 1910), built after 1970, solid layouts, central air preffered, additonal storage preferred (garages), parking preferredMost important - Location location location

I want to eventually turn it into my first rental property, but until then, I would love to meet other like-minded investors in the Birmingham area.

---Final truthYou don’t need more properties.You need margin, structure, and humility.Do that, and time will work for you instead of against you.Ignore it, and even a “good plan” will eventually crack.That’s the difference between owning rentals and being an investor.

You mention managing the properties eventually.

If it is mixed use, primary plus STR, everything gets prorated based on rental days versus personal days, which usually waters down the benefit and adds complexity.Once you fully convert it to a full time STR and move out, the tax picture becomes much cleaner.

If you invested that elsewhere, what's the return vs. the eventual appreciation + cash flow here?

But eventually enough is enough.

Population growth wasn’t the driver; income growth and tenant profile were.Most of my tenants were 2–5 years out of college, well-employed, wanted to be close to the city without paying city prices — and several eventually bought homes from me.Would I blindly buy in C areas?

It'll sit until they get realistic or they'll eventually take it off.