I was wondering since looking to invest in Texas but I saw some homes are cheaper than others in like where tornado ally area is at.

If this is hundreds of thousands in taxable gains and you like the house it might be worth moving back in if you do qualify for 75% tax free.

A lender offering WSJ Prime + 0.5% may appear cheaper than one charging Prime + 1%, but if the “cheaper” lender makes construction administration too rigid, that loan will ultimately cost far more over the duration of the project. 

If I were beginning from zero with $50K, I’d lean toward Houston and here's why..Houston gives you more leverage with cheaper entry prices and landlord-friendly laws.

This can significantly reduce or eliminate your 2025 taxable gain.

You've got some strong cash flow in those properties and I love the fact that you're looking to leverage one of them to grow.From a tax perspective, a cash-out refinance doesn’t create a taxable event since you’re borrowing against equity, not selling.

Hey @Scott Green,From a tax perspective, keeping your mortgage might still work in your favor since the interest is deductible against your rental income, lowering your taxable income.

You can cheaper people do it, but the work might not be as appealing.

That pushes large deductions into early years, lowers taxable income, boosts cash flow, and strengthens your hold strategy.Risks & What To WatchDIY studies or unqualified firms: If the cost segregation report isn’t solid, audit risk goes up.

The real beauty of real estate is that you can benefit from appreciation while also using depreciation to reduce your taxable income.Other powerful concepts many investors miss include strategically timing capital gains to be offset, leveraging 1031 exchanges, and using creative financing strategies to keep your portfolio growing.And like Janet mentioned, it really depends on several moving parts, your other income sources, where you are in your investment journey, and what other investments or businesses you have.