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. 

Looking forward to seeing your progress and deals here.

It sounds like you may have started with a couple tools on your belt and as time has progressed you have increased the amount of tools and projects you feel comfortable with. 

Especially for out-of-area screening, portfolio comparisons, or brokers/investors evaluating multiple sites quickly.I also agree BP’s core audience is rental-focused, not entitlement-driven developers.

Great for evaluating a purchase, then you never open them again.Nothing connected the two.

Hard money can be useful, but it works best when you walk in with clarity on your numbers, your timeline, and your exit.When you start talking with lenders, it helps to approach the conversation with genuine curiosity, you are evaluating them the same way they are evaluating you, mutual win win, keep that in mind.

You’re not alone — a lot of investors are feeling the same squeeze right now.From the ground-up / small multifamily side, what we’re seeing is that the “good deals” haven’t disappeared — they’ve just shifted away from traditional acquisitions and more toward development plays.A few trends that stand out:1️⃣ Build-to-Rent Is Filling the GapMany investors are pivoting to duplex and small multifamily construction to create inventory that pencils better long-term.2️⃣ Cost Basis ControlWhen you’re building, you’re locking your basis upfront instead of inheriting someone else’s appreciation plus deferred maintenance.3️⃣ Timeline & Entitlement RiskThe biggest hurdle is navigating plans, permitting, and site feasibility — which is why many investors look for projects that are already moving through that phase.Because of this, we’re seeing increased interest in ready-to-build duplex projects — where lots, plans, and permitting are already in progress — allowing investors to focus on the build and long-term rental strategy rather than starting from raw land.Build-to-rent duplexes have been a strong middle ground lately between single-family and larger multifamily — especially in growth corridors.Always interested in comparing notes with others pursuing duplex or small multifamily ground-up strategies — we’re actively building in SWFL and enjoy sharing insights with others working in similar markets.

It’s built on payrolls that tend to stay put through downturns.For investors evaluating secondary markets, reports like this reinforce why Huntsville often behaves differently than more volatile metros.

In this case, it's messy to fix this and you have to file a Form 3115.You would consider a 1031 exchange to avoid depreciation recapture.Type of property (STR or LTR),How high is your W-2 income / other incomeReal Estate Professional Status (REPS) or no REPSMore factors ….As a result, the cost seg on $300k property might be worth it, but you need to evaluate several factors and whether or not a cost segregation worth it depends on the real estate investor. ...

These visual records serve as a valuable resource for later evaluation and comparison.