The duplex prices are slightly inflated so if bought at market value, the cashflow (assuming I wasn't living there) would be slim or break-even based on rental comps (trying to buy in the Harker Heights area).However, being in the military means a stable income so I will be able to eat the $100-$300 in negative cash flow, and I have enough savings to account for vacancy and repairs. 

It is a slim margins game and most in that game should see it only as a stepping stone to build cash to enter another real estate strategy (STR/LTR/MFR)!

The temptation can be to jump right into analyzing deals, but you asked where to start.When family is involved, the real first step is getting clarity.

Absolutely, Melinda trust and speed set the pace, but communication and clarity keep the deal together.

I'm in Madison as well, and single-family homes have been good stable long-term investments, but the high prices generally make cash flow challenging, and why our single-family rental inventory is pretty slim. 

That long-term mindset and clarity around your goals will serve you well in this journey.I own a property management company based out of Kokomo, Indiana — about an hour north of Indy — and we manage doors throughout Indianapolis and the surrounding areas (Fishers, Noblesville, Carmel).

I’d love to hear your experiences and lessons learned — it’ll help me take action with more clarity and confidence.Thanks in advance,Christopher Welcome to the site.

Make sure whoever’s using their FHA loan will actually live in the property for at least a year that’s one of the key requirements.Working with family can be awesome, but clarity is everything.

Travelers on Furnished Finder and Zillow especially tend to reach out weeks before they’re ready to commit.That said, there are a few small tweaks that can help you convert faster:Add move-in clarity right in your title and first sentence.

I’d love to hear your experiences and lessons learned — it’ll help me take action with more clarity and confidence.Thanks in advance,Christopher Hi Chris.