No doubt if you do it right the sooner you can buy the better you will be in the long run provided it’s a good deal and you have the capital to stay in the game.Not sure if this helps but after reading Marcus’s post it changed my outlook on your situation and I wanted to provide an update to my initial response.

The standard pet fees and any applicable lease violation penalties will apply if Resident(s) are found not to be in compliance with ESA Certification requirements as follows: ESA Certification requires diagnosis from a local health professional.

Hello Melissa,If you haven't already done so, invest in professional photos/videos.

I’m a real estate agent based in Delaware, and I’m excited to join this community of investors, professionals, and entrepreneurs.

I would love for this person to be able to counsel us on our entire portfolio (retirement, mutual funds, AND real estate), LLCs, do our taxes, and offer RE professional tips.

It’s technically possible to qualify for Real Estate Professional (REP) status with out-of-state rentals, but in reality it’s very tough to pull off.

**Network with Professionals:** Connect with real estate agents, property managers, and other investors in the area.

To keep learning fast, run a simple Noise‑to‑Numbers scan each week: set a tight buy box for SFR/2–4s in your target ZIPs, pull 20 listings or wholesales, score each in minutes on rent potential, condition, and PM outlook, then deep‑dive only the top 10 percent.

I can't unlock those losses since I'm not a Real Estate Professional because I'm a W2 employee.

Last I looked inventory was up significantly (I have not looked recently) which indicates near term appreciation outlook is not good.My local market is similar, flattish recent appreciation and cash flow is down and inventory is up.