Your post discussed how much the properties may be wortth & how much cash may be required for deferred maintenance, but you do not mention how much net cash flow the properties produce. 

I had the benefit of being the top producing land broker in my county.. so  I know the exit price and what people will pay.. this is the problem with these types of things. you have experts and you have beginners.. with no history or understanding the markets they are buying in .. if you look at Mark's post above you will see a guy that is putting out thousands of offers and has a big shop plus probably makes a bunch of money selling his system.. 

So Doorvest is getting everything that produces a high return and you get the aspects of real estate investing that have low a return. 

Just make sure the new payment still leaves you with healthy cash flow once it’s rented.Like Joey mentioned, short-term rentals offer some attractive tax benefits if you’re willing to put in the work, but you’ll want to make sure it aligns with your current income (if you're looking to use the STR Loophole to offset) and that the numbers make sense for you.

Action: confirm it’s income‑producing, not your residence; verify real property status in your state and with your lender/insurer; have a cost‑seg pro model the deduction vs. your passive loss limits; and pressure‑test cash flow so the tax play isn’t carrying a weak asset.

The Midwest has been great for investors making that jump thanks to affordable entry points, strong cash flow, and steady appreciation — it’s a great place to start scaling while keeping returns healthy.

You’ll just have a higher payment, so make sure the new investments produce enough to cover that.If you keep saving, you’re missing out on leverage and depreciation opportunities, but it’s the safest path.Tax-efficiently, a cash-out refi or 1031 exchange usually gives you the most growth with the least tax hit.

I switched to an ugly postcard, which is faster to produce, has a wider message and has done just fine.

.🏘️ Deal Snapshot (Hypothetical Example)Purchase price: around $490K (≈ $18K/unit)Rehab budget: about $70K (mostly interior updates + deferred maintenance)Market rents: roughly $1,125/unit → ≈ $30K/month or $360K per year grossVacancy: 8 % | Operating expenses: 40 %Estimated NOI: ≈ $200K / yearAfter stabilization, this could support a DSCR refi and healthy cash flow, but the part I’m trying to understand is how the bridge loan and equity piece usually work together.💡 Questions for the communityBridge Loan Mechanics:How do these short-term “interest-only + 100 % rehab funded” bridge loans typically operate in practice?

That’s a great question, @Michael Kopa, and you’re definitely approaching it the right way.It sounds like you're already in a good position to grow since your current rental is managed and since it may be producing some passive income for you.