@Matthew CookHey Matthew,Maryville has solid job growth and safety, but if you’re open to other opportunities, the Midwest has a lot of undervalued, off-market deals with strong cash flow potential.

I believe for the patient mostly passive RE investor that leveraged RE can do well but1) residential RE is not passive, especially compared to index funds and etfs.2) because non commercial residential prices are near an all time high, interest rate is near high for this century, rents are all time worse compared to costs (per 2 recent studies) that you would be entering RE at a challenging time and a time were most RE will not produce the returns that were easy to achieve prior to 2022.3) RE provides diversification, but may not far exceed the returns from passive options.  

A properly installed radon mitigation system with post‑test results under typical safety thresholds doesn’t devalue a property; if anything, it reduces a future buyer’s objection by turning a health risk into a solved, documented feature.

For the med students, this should be a lesson as they are going to be dealing with patients who they may not like or agree with their choice, but they have to care for them all the same. 

Early focus should be clean ops and risk control: strong lease, proper disclosures, solid insurance plus an umbrella, and fixing safety issues fast.

All that equity is a safety net for any homeowner who finds themselves in a potential foreclosure situation.

I guess my hesitation just comes from the fact that I’ve never really used debt before, so it feels like stepping into unknown territory.Since my wife and I don’t make a ton and we don’t have much of a safety net, a bad investment could hit us pretty hard.

Guidelines to follow:Only buy in low-cost markets if your costs stay under 75% even after paying for two major capital improvements, such as a new roof and a new water service line.Make sure you can eliminate all obvious safety and health hazards—like broken sidewalks, missing railings, lead paint, or poor lighting.

None of this shows up on a city checklist.Set it and forget it calendar rule: Once a year, I load ALL recurring compliance dates (local rental registration renewal, Fire safety notices, Lead / window guard, annual inspection deadlines).

I am not that patient. 2) value adds.