Using leverage (and with your finances and credit score this shouldn't problem), you could turn that cash into down payments on 8 B/B+ turnkey properties (give or take, assuming average value of $100k, 25% down) in Birmingham and a few other popular markets, though numbers will vary.

The popular, local supply house I get a lot of my remodel stuff from deals Goodman equipment, and we also have a Goodman distribution center about 10 minutes away, yet for some reason a lot of the HVAC guys seem to shun it.

Hotels range from about $50 to $100.The "Bob Evans" is a popular meeting place as is the Panera.  

My episodes focused on STR have been some of the most popular.   

Dave Van Horn seems to be very popular in this field, as I see from others.

The property I found is located in a popular neighborhood for STR and conveniently close to hospitals for MTR (travelling nurses would be my target tenant base).

. :) Let me also offer something that likely isn't very popular, I wish I had offered a few more thousand on just about every property that I didn't get (for rentals).

That a good cash flowing property with a strong NOI.Knoxville is also beccoming more of a popular spot and its growing every day.As an example I used a home on Ridgedale road for the data $225K 4bd/2bth 2958sqft on .32 acres

It's a "points" system where you have to competitively log in at exactly midnight 13 months in advance to the day to get the "good/popular" resorts, which is kind of a pain, but we're both teachers and are very flexible during the summer. 

Tenants will be more attracted to properties that are conveniently located near public transportation, major highways, and popular destinations such as shopping centers, schools, and entertainment venues.