Combining thorough documentation with impartial assessments truly goes a long way in protecting both your property and your peace of mind.

Leveraging your network, especially with the military community, is a huge advantage — those connections can open doors to deals, partnerships, and mentorships.Getting your license is a smart move, and combining that with learning different strategies (buy-and-hold, house hacking, wholesaling, etc.) will give you flexibility to pivot as opportunities arise.

I own a mortgage brokerage, and have plenty of lenders who do DSCR's, but none that allow a seller carry, especially if it would make the CLTV (Combined Loan To Value) over their max LTV. 

For example, if one property experiences significant damage, such as from a fire or major storm, and its individual coverage limit is exceeded, a blanket policy would allow me to use the combined coverage across all properties.

It also requires a specialized custodian and a bit of extra paperwork.If you do wind up using cash, other savings, or even a combination of cash and other funding sources, there are also creative financing options out there today.

How did your lender structure it,  was it tied to marketable securities, savings, or a combination of assets?

PREFACE: My business partner and I bring a combined 40+ years of experience across construction, fix-and-flip operations, multifamily, and investment real estate.

I used a combination of creative finance and private lending to get to where I am.

The unit down the block that rented for $100 more, does it have the same condition, the same amenities, square footage, washer, dryer, A/C, dishwasher, are utilities included in their rent?

They require owner-occupancy (you must live in one unit as your primary residence), but you may be able to combine it with down payment assistance (DPA) programs to help cover your 3.5% down payment and possibly closing costs.USDA Multifamily loans – sometimes offer 100% financing in rural areas, perfect if hard money lenders aren’t available.DSCR loans – lenders evaluate the property’s cash flow rather than your experience, so first-time investors can sometimes still qualify ( depending on your credit worthiness and cash on hand.These options can sometimes work when hard money lenders won’t, especially for someone in your situation with a property that has strong comps.