fourth, if you have to hope that fundamentals change (e.g., interest rates), it’s a bad investment. 

I totally get the feeling — when you start diving into all the strategies out there, it can feel almost too good to be true.From my experience, the best way to get started is small and local, like you mentioned, and to focus on learning the key fundamentals first — cash flow, deal analysis, and understanding the numbers behind any property.

I understand this will be a long journey requiring significant capital, strategy, and time, but I’d love guidance on how to start moving in that direction.I’m a 23-year-old college graduate with a degree in Finance, and I have completed a Real Estate Finance course that introduced me to underwriting and the fundamentals of the industry.

Raleigh and Winston-Salem both have strong fundamentals right now, so you’ve got options.

A few things to keep in mind:Market fundamentals: New Orleans is very block-by-block.

Lexington has some good fundamentals, but since you’re open to out-of-state investing, I’d also recommend you take a serious look at the Memphis, TN market.Here’s why Memphis is popular with remote investors:Affordable buy-in: Plenty of solid rental properties in the $100K–$150K range.Strong rental demand: Large renter population with consistent long-term demand.Landlord-friendly laws: Easier to operate compared to many other states.Diverse economy: Logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing keep jobs stable.The key is having a reliable property management team to handle the day-to-day, which is what makes Memphis attractive to out-of-state investors who want to scale.If Memphis ever makes it onto your shortlist, I’d be glad to share more about neighborhoods that are investor-friendly and how out-of-state investors successfully build portfolios here.

That alone shows your fundamentals are solid.

This time, I learned the fundamentals.

Focus on the fundamentals of the real estate and learn how to operate your business in a manner where you avoid conflicts and tenant disputes.

What helped me was learning the basics of each approach (buy-and-hold, BRRRR, short-term rentals, etc.) and then testing what matched my risk tolerance, timeline, and lifestyle.The cool part is that the fundamentals such as cash flow analysis, financing options, and team building apply no matter where you invest.