There is no "magic" platform: Zillow, FB, etc. are all pretty common.

Markets in parts of the Midwest or Southeast tend to make the numbers easier and give you room for error, which matters on a first deal. 

That's a common approach for newer investors.

I know remote investing is common here, so figured I'd ask:For those who work deals remotely:How do you verify property condition without being there?

Every tax season, I talk to BRRRR investors who say some version of this:“I pulled cash out on the refi… but I’m not sure how that’s supposed to show up on my taxes.”That confusion is more common than you’d think.Here’s the key point that trips people up:A cash-out refinance is not income.You’re borrowing money against equity — not earning it.But even though the cash itself isn’t taxable, how you track the refi absolutely matters.Where issues usually show up:Refi proceeds accidentally treated like profitRehab costs not clearly tied to the original basisInterest deductions not updated after the new loanDepreciation schedules never adjusted after the refiWhen those details aren’t handled cleanly, tax returns start relying on assumptions — and that’s when mistakes creep in.If you ran a BRRRR and did a cash-out refi this past year, tax season is the right time to slow down and make sure:The loan is reflected properlyYour basis makes senseYour depreciation still lines up with realityCash-out refis are a powerful part of the BRRRR strategy.They just work best when the numbers tell the right story.For BRRRR investors here — was the refi stage the most confusing part for you from a tax or bookkeeping standpoint?

An LLC is most common. 

A common next step is either exploring a cash out refi or HELOC to see what access to capital actually looks like before chasing deals, or keeping your current place as is and using that $15-20k toward a small rental that cash flows day one. 

A common path I see work:stabilize the duplex (leases, rents, condition),refi into a DSCR loan based on income,then improve credit over 6–12 months to refi again into better terms.4.

My fellow investors, when you use a management company or self-manage, is it a common practice to keep a file for every applicant and every tenant?

MFH are extremely common and range anywhere from 150-300K.