What will magically make a performing 30, go under water if it's 20yrs longer?

Don't depend on your broker for leads.There is no guru magic or best CRM and don't chase shiney flashy systems.MEET and talk to as many people as you can, every day, every week...ask them if there are empty houses in their neighborhood, problem houses, PODs in the drive, anyone moving at work, etc. 

Run your own numbers, don’t outsource your judgmentYour realtor may be great, but they aren’t the one making the mortgage payment.You only need a simple calculator like:The BiggerPockets calculatorA basic Excel sheetEven pen and paper works when you’re startingIf the numbers don’t work on paper, they won’t magically work in real life.5.

What to look for in a good rent-by-the-room propertyThis matters a lot:• At least 3–4 legal bedrooms• Two or more bathrooms• A layout where bedrooms don’t share thin walls• Plenty of parking• A common area large enough for multiple people• A location near hospitals, colleges, or job centers• A basement or attic that can be finished legallyAnd most important:A floor plan where rooms feel private.Privacy is what keeps tenants staying longer.My honest adviceAt your age, with energy and time on your side, this strategy can fast-track you if you treat it like a business.But don’t do it blindly.Tour existing co-living houses in your area.Study your local ordinance.Model the extra expenses and the extra time.Room-by-room renting works, but it works because the operator is organized, not because the property magically prints money.

However, running out of capital to invest is not the perfect argument it's crafted to be since the reason we all went into real estate as an asset class to begin with was that we could always partner with banks to fund our deals.The magic of only coming up with a fraction of the cost ensures you are always going into any deal with a partner, except the bank is always the passive partner that is never going to need a K-1 or an offering memorandum.

Quote from @Elealeh Fulmaran: You win the interest game by shortening the loan’s life and lowering what’s charged, not by magic.

Is there a magical threshold where it makes sense?

I would advise staying away from condos unless they are in some magical place. they are normally terrible investments.

The smell in your unit is a sign the problem won’t magically go awaySmoke always travels upward through:floor cavitiesplumbing chasesgaps around outletsshared HVACold plaster/lathe wallsIf you renew their lease without addressing the issue, you can expect the smell to continue.4.

Because "Spreadsheet Magic"