I own 2 properties bought before the rate spike. Everything i do the math on now doesn't come close to cash flowing 8% +. I targeted 12% before to make the headache worth it.i have looked primarily in the Northeast. Try to look in metros with 80k+ people.
Returns on real estate include (1) cash flow, (2) market appreciation, (3) value add appreciation, (4) principle pay down, and (5) income tax savings. In my opinion, you need to look at all 5, not just 1.
I have a rental in Fort Collins, CO that rents for $2650/month and PITI is $1600/month. I'm adding a bathroom and a closet to a bonus room to make it the 5th bedroom. The rental is going from a 4 bed/2 bath to a 5 bed/3 bath with about $25,000 of improvements. I honestly think the rent is going to increase from $2650/month in 2025 to $4,000/month in 2030. I will be here to provide updates.