Option 4: ADU Long Play • If you had capital, adding an ADU could transform the deal.

:Purchased with a conventional loan (pretty sure I’m maxed out on financing this way now, especially with little income to show).Invested heavily up front: conferences, bootcamps, small groups, professional designer for full setup, studied comps, professional photographer, priced strategically/dynamic pricing.I work two jobs (foreclosure auctions + hotel), so hospitality is something I genuinely love and plan to stick with long-term.              

Investor TakeawaysBest Cash Flow Plays: ZIPs 28216 (6% vacancy, 14.52 RTP) and 28213/28269 deliver strong rent-to-price returns and are located amid transformative county developments.Growth Catalysts: Mecklenburg’s massive infrastructure and mixed-use projects (examples, River District, Eastland Park) position the area for sustained appreciation and rental demand.Emerging Suburban Markets: Gaston and Cabarrus counties are experiencing substantive population surges and shifting commuter dynamics, especially in ZIP 28083, which shows promising RTP and anticipated metro-spillover growth.

Where motivated, knowledgeable staff operate in roles they’re not only good at—but genuinely happy in.

The lesson: Knowing when to hire a property manager can completely transform your investment.

Begin with those - visit them physically or visually quickly and determine if any are genuine prospects or cross them off - quickly.

@Tiffany Situ - I'll put it this way...if you're ever audited, what the IRS cares about is that the property was genuinely available for rent.

But finding a genuine mentor you would need to provide them value.

And if you are working another full time job and trying to oversee that transformation, it can be tough!  

I'm glad folks agree that genuine content is more valuable than AI responses (otherwise what are we even doing here).