And what Ebonie shared is exactly in line with what we see in practice, STR deals in this price range routinely produce five-figure first-year tax savings, especially for higher-bracket investors.You don't need to have REPS for the STR tax benefit.

If you're going the umbrella insurance route, perhaps see if it will cover you for several things including just the routine slip and fall (like mold or earthquake).

CapEx), proper LLC/umbrella, disability/term life.Plan: lender-ready books, separate reserves per door, tax plan (depreciation, safe harbor, QBI).Grow: define buy box (cash-on-cash & DSCR gates), pipeline 2–3 markets, line of credit for speed.

My conversation would go like this I would ask him if this is a temporary or permanent move in (this kind of is a way of finding out if he anticipates getting better without asking which you can't really ask about disabilities).

Pick one simple Houston buy box (area, property type, price/rent range), learn the numbers that make a deal work, then run a daily noise-to-numbers routine so you underwrite a handful and make at least one offer a week.

A disaster.No single party is responsible, coordination breaks down, and warranty issues become unresolvable.A real GC must control the project or decline it.Lesson 10: Turning Down Work When Safety Is at StakeWe routinely refuse “lipstick only” jobs on unsafe properties.Examples:• Major electrical hazards• Structural sagging• Mold and moisture issuesCovering it up is dangerous and unethical.We’d rather lose a job than help someone sell a ticking time bomb.Closing: What I’m Proud Of After Two YearsI’m still learning, but I’m proud of what Off Leash Construction has become:• Honest, transparent scoping• A field team led by Paul that values systems over chaos• A culture that won’t compromise on safety• A process that treats investors as long-term partnersIf you’re an investor, I hope this helps you evaluate contractors more clearly.If you’re a contractor, I hope it challenges you to operate like a real business.There is massive opportunity for investors and service providers who take this seriously.

What’s Working Right Now (Not 2015 Tactics):• Consistency beats volume• Speed to first contact = contracts• Real conversations beat scripts• Smaller, higher-quality lists beat huge databases• Multi-channel communication (mail + SMS + phone) closes deals• Nurture sequences convert the most contracts over 60–120 days What Actually Produces Contracts in 2025:• Driving for Dollars + daily follow-up• Highly targeted direct-to-seller lists• Pre-MLS agent relationships• Wholesalers you can trust• Privy alerts in competitive areas• Creative financing seller conversations Mistakes to Avoid:• Buying big lists too early• No follow-up system• Chasing every lead instead of sticking to your buy box• Relying on luck, one channel, or “waiting for the right deal” My #1 Tip for Building a Pipeline From Scratch:Build a repeatable weekly routine — not a one-time marketing push.

The article also highlights that the overall cost of ownership, including property taxes, homeowners insurance, and routine maintenance, has risen sharply in many parts of the country.

Two moves: pick one lane for the next 90 days (wholesale or save for a buy-and-hold) and build a simple weekly routine—analyze a few real deals, talk to two buyers/PMs, and walk properties to learn faster.Which path are you leaning toward for this year, and what’s your target month to land deal number one?

Mostly paperwork.When routine non-compliance can multiply a property’s debt 3x above its market value, we’re no longer talking about a healthy regulatory environment.