You need to keep a detailed time log as your audit defense since many investors don’t maintain proper records.

Hey James,Builders don’t push HOAs because they’re worried about buyers loving fees—they do it because HOAs protect the long-term value of the whole subdivision, which makes their job selling homes easier.Here’s why:Property values stay consistentHOAs enforce rules about lawn care, paint colors, parking, etc.That means the house someone bought for $450K doesn’t end up next to one with a car on blocks in the yard six months later.Builders can hand off responsibilitiesRoads, stormwater ponds, shared amenities—without an HOA, the city might not maintain them, so the builder would be stuck.HOA takes that off their plate.Financing gets easierLenders often like HOAs because they reduce risks tied to neighborhood upkeep, especially on big new developments.Price opticsDropping the HOA doesn’t feel like a “discount” to most buyers; lowering the sale price does.

I understand that starting out, depending on how fast you want to build your portfolio, you could spend a lot of time at it.For those with established investment portfolios, how much time is required to maintain it?

To maintain access to their Facebook platform, you are required to pay $500 per month.

The city is still affordable compared to many Florida metros, which helps maintain rental interest.Neighborhoods to watch: Consider areas like Riverside, Springfield, East Arlington, Beach Haven, Mandarin (for higher-end plays), or Mid-Westside if you’re leaning toward affordability and yield.How to Think About Your Strategy FitStrategyIdeal If...Key ConsiderationsCash-Out RefiYour primary home has substantial equity and you want passive scalingUseful for redeploying capital with less hassle, but depends on mortgage terms and equity levelsBRRRYou prefer active investing—finding deals, rehabbing, and building sweat equityRequires capital, reliable contractors, and strong underwriting to ensure refinance worksHybridConsider starting with a cash-out to fund your first BRRR dealCombines yield potential with equity leverage—but involves both operational and financial commitmentI hope this helps, I'll send you a DM. 

Property Condition & Amenities: it’s important to, “Maintain to the Neighborhood.”Key metrics for each Property Class:Class A Properties:Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores 680+, no convictions/evictions in last 7 years.Tenant Default: 0-5% probability of eviction or early lease termination.Section 8: Class A rents are too high and won’t be approved.Vacancies: 5-10%, depending on market conditions.Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Class B Properties:Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores 620-680, some blemishes, no convictions/evictions in last 5 years.Tenant Default: 5-10% probability of eviction or early lease termination.Vacancies: 10-15%, depending on market conditions.Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 1-3 years for positive cashflow, balanced amounts of relative rent & value appreciation.Section 8: Class B rents are usually too high for the Section 8 program.Class C Properties:Tenant Pool: Majority of FICO scores 560-620, many blemishes, but should have no convictions/evictions in last 3 years.

Big picture: your takeaway is spot on—this business can cash flow well, but risk management (vetting PMs, reading leases closely, maintaining a cash cushion) is everything.

Those sorts of things lead to accidents and possible lawsuits.I am curious, you have an LLC already, has that been maintained?

The key is to structure your financing so you maintain flexibility while keeping your debt manageable.If you're relocating, start by identifying where you want to live and what your monthly costs could look like there.

Quote from @Mike Dymski: Has to be tough to grow or maintain a real estate investing podcast right now with so few transactions.