Property Condition & Amenities: it’s important to, “Maintain to the Neighborhood.”Key metrics for each Property Class:Class A Properties:Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores 680+, no convictions/evictions in last 7 years.Tenant Default: 0-5% probability of eviction or early lease termination.Section 8: Class A rents are too high and won’t be approved.Vacancies: 5-10%, depending on market conditions.Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Class B Properties:Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores 620-680, some blemishes, no convictions/evictions in last 5 years.Tenant Default: 5-10% probability of eviction or early lease termination.Vacancies: 10-15%, depending on market conditions.Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 1-3 years for positive cashflow, balanced amounts of relative rent & value appreciation.Section 8: Class B rents are usually too high for the Section 8 program.Class C Properties:Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores 560-620, many blemishes, but should have no convictions/evictions in last 3 years.

Your tenant in an STR is a guest with very different needs compared to a long-term tenant.

Generally, the $250K capital gains exclusion can still apply to your original home as long as it remains your primary residence and you’ve lived there for at least two out of the last five years.

I'm currently exploring opportunities in real estate as a pathway to building long-term wealth.

I invest in Ohio, and even here, house hacking around universities works really well when done right.For the summer when you’re away, you’ve got options:You can sublet to summer school students or interns.List it as a short-term rental (if your area allows).Or just have someone local keep an eye on things — you’re only 4 hours away, so you can still manage remotely with the right setup.As long as you screen tenants properly and treat it like a business from the beginning, it’s a solid way to start building equity early.

It's been a while since my last update.

Figuring this out should come first, before going for REPS.And last thing: it may not be easy for you to qualify for REPS with these 4 properties if they all have stable long-term tenants.

How long has the property been on the market?

Lastly, I believe you can learn just as much by simply educating yourself in all areas of the game with the vast amount of free information on the internet.

The last five years have really changed my mind as to who is a good dude and not.