Using the advice from Brandon Turner's book, I've been trying to evaluate a deal a day to exercise the muscle.Considering housing prices in my area are quite high, I may try to relocate back to Minnesota in the next year or two, and I would like to save $10k-$15k more to invest in my first deal (currently have about $25k saved to invest in the future), I feel like I'm in limbo with my REI journey.For those of you who are further along in your investment journey, where would you go from here?

What metrics do you actually look at first when evaluating a deal?

Plumbing (supply and waste lines), Electrical, any auxiliary systems such as pumps, alarms, water heaters, HVAC, all need to be evaluated to some extent so you know what you are working with."

A few things about my criteria:Prefer minimal rehab - I’m not looking for a heavy value‑add project.Want a straightforward rental with solid demand and stable returns.Long‑term buy‑and‑hold strategy, not flipping.Open to SFR or small multifamily, depending on what my budget fits best.For those of you investing in Texas, I’d really appreciate your insight on:Which Texas markets currently offer the best rental fundamentals for a first‑time investorAny cities or neighborhoods you’d avoid due to taxes, regulations, or softening rentsTips for evaluating properties that don’t require major work but still cash‑flow reasonably wellThanks in advance for any guidance.

Maybe that's a newbie way of evaluating real estate, but for my needs, cash is king, so as long as it's rented and cashflowing, that's the important part for me.

For example, I was evaluating a 4-plex property for a client.

A flip needs a very different evaluation than a long-term rental.

If anyone ever wants a second set of eyes on a deal or has questions around operations, expenses, or lien evaluation, happy to talk. 

Getting clarity on how the refi will be evaluated before you buy saves a lot of pain later.On capital, many successful BRRRR deals start with conservative leverage and focus on markets where post-reno rents are provable, not just aspirational.Are you targeting single-family or small multifamily, and do you already have rent comps lined up for the refi phase?

How to evaluate the kind of improvements needed to increase the value of a home2.