Short- or mid-term rentals can work well if you’re comfortable with the added complexity and expense, but stability is often what creates momentum early on.

Would love to meet and get to know fellow like-minded Real Estate investors here in Knoxville 💯💯💯I'm currently looking to buy a 73-130 unit apartment complex here in the Knox area or a 200'ish pad RV site with city sewer and/or city water around the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville area in the not so distant future for an out of state 1031 exchange 💱 If any other fellow investors are around I would looooove to get together for lunch or coffee sometime soon to talk shop and see what I can do to help you reach your dreams (real estate related or not!)

It's important to capture not only the property itself but also the surrounding area and any notable features.

I’ve found it helpful to think in terms of complexity vs. risk — rehab scope, tenant issues, and how forgiving the numbers are if something goes off plan.Townhomes, duplexes, and small multis can all work, but I’d underwrite a few of each in your area and see which ones actually leave room for cash flow and headaches you’re comfortable with.

Any advice on how to structure the learning process, find reliable information, or better understand my local market would be greatly appreciated.Sam - real is as simple as you make it and as complex as you want it to be.  

Over time, the tipping points tend to be:Time fragmentation — it’s not the big issues, it’s constant small interruptionsScale complexity — more units means more vendors, coordination, and documentationStress tolerance — late-night calls, disputes, and emergencies wear differently on everyoneSystem maturity — some owners enjoy building processes; others don’t want an operations jobCost is part of it, but many realize the real tradeoff is time and mental bandwidth, not just management fees.

OR maybe go to work for an apartment complex where you could get reduced rent for either working in front office or maintenance or both. 

For buildings that are mixed-use meaning to have areas that qualify as both commercial and residential spaces, the tax law can be even more complex and confusing than a single-use property.

There's a map feature that will let your friend see the current listings in the area the home is located in, along with what they're going for.

I work in mortgage lending and spend most of my time helping investors and owner occupied buyers think through financing strategy, not just rates.A large portion of my experience has been with self employed borrowers and clients who own multiple rental properties, so I’m very familiar with more complex income scenarios, portfolio considerations, and structuring loans to support long term growth.I recently joined a newer lending platform that’s intentionally focused on clean execution, upfront documentation, and minimizing friction for borrowers and agents.