A few tactics most successful builders lean on: • Contracts: One-sided contracts sound good on paper, but in practice they can hurt your reputation and limit repeat buyers.

Is your DSCR ratio greater than 1-meaning are you cash flowing (according to the lender's criteria of mortgage, property taxes and insurance (and HOA) if applicable).

No, no, no, don't lie on your mortgage application.

Maybe you might want to see if your current lender for the existing HELOC is willing to extend your credit limit?

Steve you are right to pause and ask questions before moving everything into an irrevocable trust Once assets are placed there you generally give up control which can limit flexibility later A lot of real estate investors in Maryland and beyond instead start with a revocable living trust for estate planning and probate avoidance then look at more advanced options like irrevocable trusts for asset protection or tax planning when it makes sense Since you already hold everything in an LLC you have a layer of liability protection so the trust decision is more about estate planning and taxes I’d recommend sitting down with an experienced estate planning attorney who understands real estate investing so you can weigh whether a revocable or irrevocable trust fits your goals

The downside is it relies on available data, so results can be limited or slightly off in smaller markets, and full features require a paid plan.Mashvisor is a good one to look into as well.

Be careful dealing with tenants during the application process.

The civil engineer will also be able to help verify access to utilities, set back requirements, storm water management, if applicable etc.

I currently have very limited connections in real estate.

Single story, 3-5 bedroom, STR/MTR hybrid, No HoA limitations on rentals.