I preferred a better, value add deal, but those were tough to find and take on at my novice level.

Good morning, A little background on my real estate investing to give an overview of my experience level: Live in flipWaterfront lot flipInfill Lot flip sold via owner financeI have a goal to take my investing more seriously in 2026 and I would like some input on a deal I am currently working.

From my past experience working with investors and C-level executives in the hotel and condotel space, the biggest lesson that always surfaced was this: operations determine the outcome of the deal far more than the real estate itself.

The other 2 need normal “make ready” and some handyman level repairs. 

Quote from @Yoni Meth: Hey All,I’m currently investing in Columbus, OH, and generally happy with the market, but I’m looking to expand into another area where single-family home prices are more in the $100–$150K range.My criteria:Strong cash-flow potential (ideally close to the 1% rule).Reasonable appreciation upside.Population growth and a diverse job market.Normal/Reasonable property tax rates (nothing extremely high that kills cash flow)Neighborhoods with acceptable crime levels, preferably C and above, avoiding high-risk “D” areasIf anyone has experience in markets that fit this profile, or recommendations for cities/markets worth exploring, I’d appreciate your insights.Thanks!

A lot of investors start out relying only on free spreadsheets or calculators, and those can definitely help with surface-level numbers.

I'm a novice (like "I don't know what questions I need to ask" level novice).

I’m looking to connect with local investors, wholesalers, contractors, lenders, and anyone open to sharing knowledge or possibly collaborating on deals.I’m excited to bring value where I can and level up my knowledge.

Bigger pockets has some excellent calculators.However you have to signup for the pro level.

The latest official data (September) reported modest levels of job creation, but employment ticked up to 4.4%, its highest level in four years.