Then in 3 years if you move to a more investor friendly area and have more flexibility you could start buying real estate.It's not easy focusing on a main job, raising a family, and trying to make money in real estate.

That said, if the property is habitable and your documents are all in order, its not impossible that you could get a portfolio loan from a more traditional lender that could provide the cash needed.

It measures the return on the total cost to build the project, calculated as: Yield on Cost = Net Operating Income ÷ Total Project CostYoC answers a more fundamental question: “Is it worth taking on the risk, time, and capital to build this project in the first place?”

Even though things may feel a bit uncertain in today’s economy, real estate can still be a powerful investment.Yes, home values are rising at a more moderate pace right now.

You might be able to finance someone who can't qualify for a more traditional loan.

Or is there a more efficient way to verify that? 

Columbus is a more appreciation focused market while Cleveland is more cash-flow heavy.

As someone who works with out-of-state investors in the Indianapolis market, I can tell you that a 6-week vacancy with little to no communication is definitely a red flag, especially if the property is in rentable condition or only needs light work.A typical turnaround timeline (from vacancy to re-listing) should be about:1–2 weeks for basic cleaning, painting, and minor repairs1 week or less to professionally list, market, and begin showingsAnother 1–2 weeks to screen and place a qualified tenantSo, unless there are major renovations or permit delays, anything beyond 3–4 weeks without a solid plan or update is worth a closer look.It might be time to start exploring other property managers, especially one who can be transparent, responsive, and proactive in getting your asset performing again.If you’d like, I’m happy to take a look at the property and give you a free turn-key assessment and market rent analysis so you can make a more informed decision moving forward—no pressure at all.Wishing you the best with the next steps!

If you're looking to build long-term and want a more stable and scalable market, it’s definitely worth digging into.

In your case, 2 days at Property A and 3 at Property B—you’d typically split expenses as follows:Mileage ($700 total): Allocate by days—2/5 to Property A ($280) and 3/5 to Property B ($420), unless there's a more precise method based on actual distances.Hotel ($300): Deduct 100% to Property A, since the lodging was only used while working there.Meals (per diem or actual): Split by day—2/5 to A, 3/5 to B.For tax reporting, each portion of the expense is deducted on Schedule E, under the specific property that incurred the cost.