Focused in Michigan or Ohio as I'm original from there, but any wisdom would be great!

Here’s what’s working for a lot of investors right now:MLS + Agent Connections: Even in a hot market, investor-friendly agents can send you listings before they hit the mainstream — focus on building those relationships. 

BiggerPockets’ forums and their book The Book on Wholesaling Real Estate by Jamil Damji and Pace Morby is also a great starting point.REI Meetups: Check out NY-area real estate meetups and REI clubs (NYC Real Estate Investors Association, Meetup.com) — there you’ll find classes, mentors, and networking opportunities.Practice Talking to Sellers & Buyers: Even before you have a deal, practice analyzing properties, cold-calling, and building your buyer’s list.Start small, stay consistent, and focus on learning one piece at a time — you’ll gain confidence faster than you think.

But it's also not going to kill you to take the money, pay the tax, and keep it free for any other use.

Right now I’m focused on finding both seller-financed and institutional notes for a couple buyers I’m working with, so I’m always looking for better ways to source deals.

.* Long-term growth potential* Tax advantages (especially in retirement accounts or with tax-loss harvesting)**Cons:*** No cash flow unless you're dividend-focused* Market volatility: Stocks can drop 20–30%+ in corrections* Less control: You’re a passive participant vs. real estate where you can force appreciationReal Estate Investing – A Smart Supplement:Real estate, especially long-term rentals (LTRs) - could be an ideal complement to your brokerage accounts:* Monthly cash flow for lifestyle freedom* Tax benefits (depreciation, cost segregation, 1031 exchanges)* Appreciation and leverage options* More control over your investmentIf you want something more passive, turnkey rentals in the Midwest or Southeast are great entry points - low-maintenance, managed properties in cash-flowing markets with strong rental demand.You don’t have to choose just one path.

Chicago is a great market to invest and and it has a lot of meet ups, from house hacker focused to investor, and remodel focused.

We’re Breaux Group 11, an ambitious real estate team based in Fargo, North Dakota, focused on building a strong foundation in the real estate world through wholesaling, flipping, and luxury property deals.

You could make money in both, but your odds are much better with the S&P 500.As a local investor and agent, I’ve personally shifted away from the city and focused more on the suburbs.

If a tenant/borrower can't pay $2000 this month, how are they going to pay $4000 next month or $6000 in month 3.