The combination of hands-on mechanical knowledge and real business discipline is something many investors develop much later - if ever.One perspective that may serve you well early: in real estate, technical problems are often easier to solve than financial ones.A building can be “fixable” from a construction standpoint and still be a weak deal if the numbers don’t provide enough margin.

If the economics don't work or if you risk getting whipsawed by one owner with scale, no amount of enticement can make a bad investment perform good. agreed.. developments that are 100% rentals unless there is strong controls on the front yards IE HOA type situation. they can look pretty ratty in a few years. 

@Saravanan VaradanYou are probably talking about DIY software-based cost seg.

From a pure market growth and macro standpoint, I’d also strongly compare Pittsburgh to Columbus, because Columbus has seen strong population and job growth and continues attracting major employers and development, which supports long term rent demand and appreciation, while Pittsburgh is often viewed as more stable and cash flow oriented but with slower appreciation in many submarkets.

What software are you currently using to track income & expenses?

There’s major development happening with companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Honda and others expanding here, which is fueling long term appreciation.

Newark continues to show new development.

You can still find properties around 120K–180K that hit the 1% rule and produce real cash flow, plus there’s strong appreciation potential because of all the development happening.

Quote from @Marcus Ball: After struggling with local rehab properties in California, I switched to build-to-rent developers and chose a 1031 exchange.

Love seeing architects make the leap into development and investing — your background in design and construction already gives you a huge edge.