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Oliver Buchannon
Jacob McEwen
The 10 best cities for first-time real estate investors in 2026

May 12, 2026

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2 min read

The 10 best cities for first-time real estate investors in 2026

Low entry price, strong cash flow, landlord-friendly laws, and stable tenant demand. These 10 cities check every box.

Jacob McEwen
Jacob McEwen
The salary you need to buy a house in every state

May 5, 2026

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3 min read

The salary you need to buy a house in every state

We calculated the minimum income required to afford the median home in all 50 states. Some will surprise you.

Jacob McEwen
Jacob McEwen
Why your homeowners insurance just doubled

Apr 28, 2026

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3 min read

Why your homeowners insurance just doubled

Insurance costs rose 12% nationwide last year. In some states it's up 50% in 3 years. Here's why and what to do about it.

Jacob McEwen
Jacob McEwen
3 states where property taxes eat your cash flow

Apr 21, 2026

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2 min read

3 states where property taxes eat your cash flow

Your monthly payment doesn't just go to the bank. In some states, the county takes more than your mortgage.

Jacob McEwen
Jacob McEwen
The hidden cost that kills most rental property deals

Apr 14, 2026

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3 min read

The hidden cost that kills most rental property deals

It's not vacancy. It's not maintenance. It's the one line item most new investors completely ignore.

Jacob McEwen
Jacob McEwen
3 numbers that tell you if a rental property is worth buying in 60 seconds

Apr 10, 2026

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3 min read

3 numbers that tell you if a rental property is worth buying in 60 seconds

Most investors overthink it. These three metrics give you 90% of the answer before you run a full analysis

Jacob McEwen
Jacob McEwen
The real cost of closing on a rental property (it's not just the down payment)

Mar 31, 2026

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3 min read

The real cost of closing on a rental property (it's not just the down payment)

A $200K rental with 20% down actually needs $51,205 at closing. Here's where every dollar goes

Jacob McEwen
Jacob McEwen
5 cities where rentals still cash flow in 2026 (and 5 that don't)

Mar 24, 2026

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3 min read

5 cities where rentals still cash flow in 2026 (and 5 that don't)

I analyzed 300 US markets for cap rate and cash flow. Most don't work anymore — but these 5 still do.

Jacob McEwen
Jacob McEwen
The $6,550 Question Nobody Asks Before Moving States

Mar 22, 2026

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2 min read

The $6,550 Question Nobody Asks Before Moving States

The $6,550 question nobody asks before moving states

Jacob McEwen
Jacob McEwen

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The Numbers Letter

The math behind every money decision. Weekly breakdowns of taxes, real estate investing, mortgage costs, and insurance — with real data, not opinions.

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