@Janet Anthony generally investments considered "Risky" like stocks and Real estate, tend to be risky short run  but less risky long run.

There definitely are still deals, but they tend to go to the more full-time folks who have the knowledge and experience.

(I don't recommend insulating the ceiling of the crawlspace--it will cause condensation and dripping.)Make sure there is some sort of vapor barrier on the floor of the crawl space--either thick plastic sheeting or cement. 

People who know there market best tend to get the best deals.

Unless you are veteran you'll likely need do to 3.5% down payment then on top of that have room for closing cost which tend to be over $10K.  

For newer investors, LTRs tend to be more stable, predictable, and passive, especially when you have a busy career.Turnkey long-term rentals in the Midwest and Southeast can be a smart entry point.

Visitors for such events tend to stay longer, spend more, and travel different cities.

Hi Marian,I’m based in Colorado Springs, and in my experience, the best investment opportunities here tend to be fix-and-flips or wholesaling.

Plus, landlord-tenant laws tend to be more favorable for landlords.

Passive losses can only offset passive income—they don’t reduce your W-2 income in most cases.So while your duplex rental may generate losses on paper, they won’t reduce the amount of tax withheld from your W-2 unless:You qualify as a real estate professional, orYou materially participate in a short-term rental under 7-day average stays, orYou have other passive income to offset.What to do instead:Don’t stop your W-2 withholding entirely unless you’ve worked with a CPA to confirm a significantly reduced tax liability.If your rental qualifies under STR or REPS, then yes—depreciation and losses can offset W-2 income, and you might reduce withholding.Otherwise, you can still update your W-4 to fine-tune your withholdings slightly if you tend to overpay and get large refunds, but be conservative.Run a midyear tax projection with a real estate CPA who understands REPS, STR, and passive loss rules.