A first rental property is typically a $150K–$300K single-family home in a cash-flow market, financed with a DSCR loan, bought for monthly income and long-term growth. Plan on $50K–$80K total: down payment, closing costs, and reserves. That's the shape of it. The details — what to buy, where, how to judge a deal, what happens after closing — are below, in the order you'll need them.
Decide if real estate belongs in your portfolio
- Why real estate → The structural advantages stocks don't have: direct ownership, monthly income, 30-year fixed financing, an insurable downside.
- The four ways rental property generates returns → Cash flow, appreciation, tax benefits, and principal paydown, working at the same time.
- Rental property vs. index funds → and vs. REITs → — the honest comparisons.
Know what it costs
- How much money do you need? → The full capital breakdown, not just the down payment.
- Understanding DSCR loans → The financing that qualifies the property instead of your W-2.
Learn to judge a deal
- How to evaluate a rental property in 15 minutes → The framework our team runs on every marketplace property.
- Single-family vs. multifamily → Which first deal fits, with real numbers from three listings.
- Run your own numbers → Cash flow, returns, and tax savings on any set of assumptions. New to the vocabulary? The glossary → covers every term on a pro forma.
Buy it
- How to buy your first rental property: step by step → Every decision point from goals to keys.
- Where the numbers work: our markets → Prices, rents, and cash flow across 20+ metros.
- Buying outside your home market → Most first-time investors should, and here's how it works remotely.
Own it
- What happens after you buy → The post-close lifecycle: first 90 days, statements, and when to think about property two.
- How to vet a property manager → The single relationship that decides whether your projections hold.
When you're ready
An Investment Plan is a free 30-minute conversation about your goals, timeline, and budget — and whether you're ready at all. That's a real question, and no is an acceptable answer.
Talk to an Investment Consultant →
Educational content, not financial advice. Examples are illustrative and actual results vary.