Working Smart
Instead of travelling to all the towns, you can buy, sell & repair properties from the Sanctuary Map. Buy them early !!
As soon as you unlock the ability to buy property ... start buying the wagons in Dweller Camp & rent them out ... Repair them at the same time if you can ... You get more rent when they are 100% repaired ... DON'T forget to check on them regularly to keep them high in the repair % ... Before long, you will have enough income to buy houses in Brightwall & so on. Businesses
Once you unlock buying Business, I found you get more from them than houses ... KEEP your houses ... you needs ALOT of gold once you become King or Queen !! Health Potions
I've found keeping 2 or 3 spare will cover your requirements ... if needed ... SELL THE REST !!