It is security if something goes wrong.If your transaction goes perfectly,  you don't need an agent.  

Quote from @Drago Stanimirovic: I’ve heard stories of investors closing in under a week when the lender and deal lined up perfectly.

Your pipeline isn’t empty — because you didn’t wait for the “perfect time.”

I'm not here to argue or paint you in a negative light, I'm simply here to clarify and remind you of the FULL picture.And for the record, we’re not perfect... hell, I’m definitely not perfect... and we’re always looking for ways to grow and improve.

Columbus, Ohio is a perfect example—population and job growth are strong, major companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, and Facebook are expanding here, and you can still find rentals in the $120–180K range that hit the 1% rule and produce positive cash flow immediately.

Tools like Doola or Otto AI make setup easy (2-3 day turnaround) since they handle the EIN, registered agent, and filings...so you can focus on property.After that, here’s what I’ve learned (some points made already in previous comments):Local banks: great relationships and flexibility, but slow tech and lots of manual steps.National banks: fast automation and solid integrations, but less personal support.The best move for most small landlords is to use a national bank for ops and keep a few local bank relationships for lending when you need it.

Most people rush in with no roadmap.Since you’re a first-time buyer and plan to live in one unit, you’re in the perfect position to use house-hacking to build wealth safely.

Besides doing any RentReady Repairs, the biggest challenge with quick turns is the existing tenant(s).Every owner looks at the "perfect" Class A example (only light cleaning & touchups, tenant cooperates with showings) and wants it applied to EVERY scenario.- Less likely to happen on Class B rentals and rarely on Class C or D!

The addition will make it perfect for two families, with lots of room and privacy for everyone, so I hope to have some extra revenue from the addition. 

The "Ideal" Model: If you could have a perfect, always-up-to-date analysis model, what would it do that your current spreadsheet doesn't?