My wife and are in a financial position to start "small" in investing. She is a bookkeeper for small businesses and is taking special training on keeping books for REI. We're reading all the books suggested. (Please d...

In Georgia, there are some cities beyond Orlando that are showing promise: places like Savannah which has logistics growth + tourism + relatively lower entry prices, Athens with the University of Georgia driving stable demand, Augusta which has been growing in rentals and value, Macon which is still more affordable and showing rising interest for long-term rentals, and suburbs of Atlanta like Duluth and Smyrna which are getting spillover demand from people priced out of the core.

I've built out a plan with a family member who is in lending who is going to be able to help us refinance our home, lower our monthly payment from what we currently have and reopen a new HELOC to tap into more equity we've built with improvements (bought our house for a steal years ago). 

[Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (US) via FRED®]Assuming the spread returns to its pre-COVID range, and the 10-year in the low 4’s, my guess is that the 30-year mortgage rates will likely remain above 6%, though somewhat lower than today’s, for the rest of 2025.I have another consideration for investors who are waiting on rates to go down.

With how much real estate prices have increased it is unlikely you will fully eliminate capital gains in excess of the $500K exemption (assuming married filing joint) but any improvement costs you have support for can be added to your homes basis will help lower the gain amount 

I've heard how wholesaling is a good way to start investing in real estate, is that true?

.💡 What Investors Should KnowCash flow > appreciation – Buy properties that pay today, not just someday.Condo caution – Watch for HOAs, insurance, and oversupply dragging returns.Inland & off-peak areas – Better value, steadier long-term tenants, lower entry cost.Negotiating power – Cooling market = leverage for buyers.STR playbook – Professional management, upgrades, and pricing tools are must-haves.💰 Investment Buyer OpportunitiesMotivated Sellers: Nearly 30% of listings cutting prices → room to negotiate.Single-Family Homes Inland: Lower prices + stronger year-round rental demand.Retiree-Focused Housing: Steady demand in 55+ and low-maintenance communities.Small Multifamily (2–4 units): Rising rents + less competition = strong buy-and-hold.Fix & Flip: Longer DOM = distressed sellers and below-value buys.✅ Bottom LineMyrtle Beach is shifting from a hot seller’s market to a more balanced one.

I invest in Midwest markets, where entry costs are lower and cash flow can be more predictable, which is great for building experience and scaling.

Others are more patient, preferring to wait for the lower-cost option.Which camp do you fall into?

Escondido tends to have stronger year round demand but tighter regulations, Wrightwood is more seasonal with big winter peaks, Redding has steady outdoor tourism with new rules coming into play, and Bakersfield is more of a lower cost entry with modest STR potential.