A local bank might offer a more personal touch, but unless they provide something special like easier access to local vendors or better rates, national banks usually win on convenience.

That’s why a lot of investors are leaning into one of two routes:Out-of-state investing in high-cash-flow or appreciation marketsTurnkey rentals—which let you deploy capital quickly into stable, rehabbed, and tenanted assetsWhy Turnkey Might Make Sense for You -Given your new career transition and interest in scaling without getting bogged down in renovations or property headaches, turnkey properties offer a few key advantages:You buy back your time while building cash flow and equityYou can invest in stronger rental markets, even if they’re out of stateIt helps you stay passive, but still profitable—a smart move as you juggle tech work and RE growthWith your background in problem-solving and systems from the automotive and tech industries, you’ll likely thrive in identifying scalable solutions—and turnkey could be one of them.If you're open to exploring markets or want to know what kind of returns to expect from a well-vetted turnkey deal, happy to share some examples or walk through the numbers.Either way, congrats again on your first win—and excited to see where you take it next!

Build the team before you build the duplex.You’ll want:A lender who understands new construction for small multifamilyA GC who has duplex/quad experience (big difference from single-family builders)A property manager (even if you self-manage later) — they’ll help confirm rents and layout efficiencyA CPA who gets depreciation + construction financingRookies win faster when they assemble a squad early.You’re doing it the right way — one intentional step at a time.

If I buy at the foreclosure or tax sale I call my insurance broker as soon as I win at the auction and get builders risk insurance on it as of that minute.

You get your ask and make the terms a win / win for everyone.

Set a purchase price to buy within 3 years Owner retains title and ownership and pays taxesI pay lease, insurance, and all other expensesI rent out the space during the three yearsOwner adds my lease payment (or percentage) toward purchaseI am wanting to present this plan to her and her son soon if they are open to a residual income for a while and if it presents as a win-win. 

Hitting 50 deals in a single year requires repeatable processes, local relationships (contractors, title companies, municipal contacts), and a team aligned behind our values: Help First, Everybody Wins, Deliver Results.Specialization in challenging assets.

Plant where your buy box wins on paper.

My specialty in New Jersey is house hacking MFR and live in fix and flips and showing clients how to win with these models...

I'll look more into hybrid/segmented special assessments.You'd think lenders would be mostly okay with these, since while it's true that only a portion of the units are responsible for repayment, the loan amount itself (their risk/skin in the game) is lowered by the same factor (slashed in half in my case).I know this is silly and I probably won't go down that route, but part of me is thinking, "I'll be the lender myself - I'll give them a less predatory (but still win-win) interest rate - if anyone has to collect interest here, why not it be me?"