Buying my first home (3 unit) was easy, I live in one and rent 2 others.

Even though both buyers are using bank financing they are both existing home owners. 

We just got to $100M+ tapes from two larger lenders in the RTL/DSCR space and they are laying off people left and right as we received several calls from people looking for employment.One lender capped their lending in california to no more than $1M - which in california and non-rural is basically there way of saying we are not doing business here anymore

I have found the larger PM companies are more difficult to deal with.

If you’re talking about doing this as a business, you’ll need a far larger commitment to marketing.   

Rates for 2nd home and investment properties are very very bad right now.

I still have a W2 (Frequent travel...) so self-management isn't my plan for now.I also have a couple of pieces of property in North Georgia that I would like to build out with a small single-family home or even a manufactured home.

If possible, check online reviews or ratings and, for larger projects, consider a local project manager or inspector to oversee progress.

I started with him when he was doing turn key houses that we funded.. he gravitated to larger development deals that can be tough to place.175 parcels pre sold to a national builder who released 3 mil in EM.  22 mil contract to buy exiting first 5 mil  so we are junior but also have a collateral assignment of the purchase contract and other guarantees.. having speed an being the sole underwriter on this one ( ME) based on history( I funded 2 other developments for him one in Colorado one in GA) We got it done..

I’ve been having more conversations with lenders lately and one theme keeps coming up:track record unlocks leverage, but no one seems to agree on what milestones matter most.For those of you who have scaled from your first MF acquisitions into larger, higher-leverage opportunities:What moved the needle with lenders the fastest?