Buy the nicest house you can for the least amount of money you can.The lower the rent, the higher the demand.Back into it....how much is average household income, take 30-40% of that and that is rent.Stay at that number or less.So I would say 3bed/2bath/ at least 1 car garage and preferably 2, $300K or less.Sherman is a good place to look...about 45 minutes north of McKinney with lots of demand drivers.Don't get tempted to buy new construction. 

2) I bet you could draw that same or even more extreme graph for new car prices.

Agreed sale price is at $395k with 3% sellers concessions, it is a 3 bed 2 bath 1 car garage for both units and each side currently has tenants renting month to month.

(I have experience running a car dealership in the state and have the legacy mechanic and lot manager committed to staying on)Course of action 2: I try to find funding to purchase the entire property as mixed use (I plan to develop a parcel for my primary residence to live with my family while running the business)Course of action 3: I stay in my current W2 job out of state, apply for a loan to purchase the property, and run the business from afar (I would become a passive investor in the business and owner of the property).

I am currently renting out both units but I also have an attached 1-2 car garage with an upstairs loft above it that I am looking to renovate and somehow rent out as the space is not currently being utilized.

I am also a widower, their mother passed away in a car accident in 2023.My goal is to scale my real estate investing to the point where I do not need a w-2 and can focus all my time and attention on loving and caring for my daugthers.My mentor has been incredible.

We had to wash all the bedding, wipe down the wall, clean the blinds, etc… a very heavy cleaning.

He build a car instead.

On top of that, you can use the earnings from the STR now instead of waiting until you are 59.5 years old.The income tax portion is likely a wash since you are either going to pay income tax now or in the future. 

Quote from @Kevin Kim: Yes these forms should or CAR forms should.