I was thinking maybe its a series LLC type structure I see that in Chicago.

That mindset feels especially important right now, with underwriting and operations doing a lot more of the heavy lifting than they did a few years ago.I’m based in the Midwest and spend a lot of time thinking about how deals actually hold up post-close, especially around debt structure and operational assumptions.

This is where having someone run the full picture matters.Looking ahead, it would also be worth reviewing how your other income and real estate activities are structured from an entity and tax standpoint.

I recently worked with a California homeowner who completed a 1031 exchange into two long-term rental properties in the Grand Rapids, MI area.The goal was to reposition equity from a higher-cost market into Midwest rentals with more stable cash flow, while coordinating both acquisitions and financing remotely.We focused on rent-ready properties rather than heavy rehabs, and structured the purchases together to keep timelines aligned and reduce execution risk.Curious what others are seeing right now in Grand Rapids in terms of pricing, rent-to-value ratios, or investor demand compared to prior years.

Assets like stocks and metals are great for net worth and reserves, but they usually can’t be used as qualifying income unless the balances are very large and structured properly for asset-depletion guidelines.In your situation, getting a job is realistically the strongest next step if your goal is to buy with financing.

Lower purchase prices, steady rental demand, and simpler deal structures make it easier to learn without taking on outsized risk.

What I found shocked me.The Problem: Information AsymmetryAs an OOS investor, you are structurally disadvantaged.

You’ll also want to let your CPA know, since how you treat the transfer (as a sale vs. a disregarded transfer) can vary depending on how the LLCs are structured (single-member, disregarded, partnership, etc.).You did the right thing by moving it into the holding LLC once you decided to keep it — that’s a good habit for scaling later.

Regional banks and credit unions tend to be more flexible if there’s strong payment history, while agency lenders usually want a cleaner structure and rely mostly on lot rent for DSCR and valuation.About how many homes are seller-financed, and what share of total income do those notes make up? 

You're absolutely right that the traditional $2-6k fee structure can kill the ROI on smaller properties.There's actually a third category that's emerged since you wrote this: automated engineering-based studies.