I despaired and wasted precious problem solving time moping, and as a result, ended up holding the property much longer than I should have.

Or another unique way he would use his net jet subscription was when we went to Play Augusta National one year..

Acquiring those doors requires you to live below your means, save precious Capital for your investments, and work your A** off in your free time. 

I'm a young, driven and passionate man who just turned 22 today and started my first day at my first corporate job just to come to find out I desperately hate this lifestyle of trading your precious hours of your life to "get by", the act of trading your soul for soulless work that I could care less about.

Living well below your means to save precious Capital. 

Quote from @Augusta Owens: A contractor filed a mechanic’s lien against me but misspelled my name, so the lien doesn’t show under my legal name or the property in the Dallas county system.

Feel free to connect if you want to talk through more ideas I’ve had to get creative in similar situations  I just sent you a DM Alabama, Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Alaska, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Arizona, Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Arkansas, Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Colorado, Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Connecticut, Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Delaware, Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Florida, Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Georgia, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Hawaii, Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua, Idaho, Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Illinois, Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Indiana, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Iowa, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Kansas, Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Kentucky, Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Louisiana, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Maine, Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Maryland, Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Massachusetts, Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Michigan, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Minnesota, Minneapolis, St.

Also curious to hear from others as far as investment types: crypto, bitcoin, oil and gas, precious metals, I don't have a full understanding of crypto/bitcoin and have heard that it's volatile.

Out-of-State: Pros & Cons**Staying Local**- Easier to manage or check on- Build hands-on experience- Tighter margins in Nashville**Going Out-of-State**-Better cash flow-Landlord-friendly states-Requires a solid team and more upfront due diligenceIf cash flow is your top priority and you’re open-minded, out-of-state investing in the Midwest or Southeast might be your best move, especially for a buy-and-hold strategy.Top Markets for Cash Flow Right Now:These are all turnkey-friendly and beginner-friendly:*Birmingham, AL*Indianapolis, IN*Cleveland OH*Augusta or Macon, GAAll have solid rent-to-price ratios, affordable entry points, and reliable property management infrastructure.Evaluating a Market (Checklist Style):* Landlord-friendly laws* Low property taxes* Population and job growth* Diverse economy* Strong rent-to-price ratio (1% or better is great for cash flow)* Good local turnkey teams or PMsFinancing Tips for Your First Deal:* Conventional 15–25% down: Still the most straightforward route.* House hack: FHA (3.5% down) or conventional (5%) if you’re willing to live in it.* Portfolio lenders: Great if you want to scale quicker or buy in LLC.* DSCR loans: For out-of-state investors - based on property cash flow, not your income.Common First-Timer Mistakes to Avoid:* Overestimating rent or underestimating expenses* Buying in a bad area just because it’s cheap* Not vetting the property manager* Emotional decisions over data-driven ones* Skipping proper inspections or due diligenceYou’re already doing the hardest part: asking the right questions and taking the initiative to plan thoughtfully.You can invest remotely as a first-timer - just be disciplined with your numbers, vet your team hard, and be willing to move forward without everything feeling 100% perfect.

If you are self managing, the value of the effort should be subtracted off the return because your time is precious and deserves to be compensated.