Lock in a payment you are comfortable with and watch the value continue to grow.  

. $50k is taxed as capital gain, while $40k is deducted as an ordinary loss, at a higher rate usually.

Meanwhile, I want to find specific ways to bring value to others in the area as I grow towards my goals of financial freedom and further appreciation for the beautiful State of Tennessee! 

Keep making the savings grow so you have some leverage and leeway when making offers in the future.

This is a good start to ensure the tenants are paying, expenses are not out of the ordinary, and a timeline for when tenants leases are up for renewal. 

BRRRR is the most efficient way to start/grow a small portfolio, but impatience expressed financially is debt, so you can't be shy about racking up mortgages.Once you get going with BRRRR you will get to a point fairly rapidly where your personal income streams that exist now could not cover your debt service payments for your investment properties and how far past that point you are willing to go will determine your growth potential.

Start with someone who you’re comfortable with and will work with you and educate you - not just for this deal but to grow with you as you build your empire.

@Holly I HansenMoving from a single family property to units throws up red flags to underwriters unless you lay out the reason (and the reason can't be because I want to grow my portfolio). 

This was exasperated when the socialist Labor Party took power in the 1950s, and raised capital gains to where the tax on ordinary income was, 89.9%.  

I love learning and growing and real estate has always been a passion of mine.