It positions us perfectly for the future: energy, data centers, industrial expansion, reshoring, automotive jobs, all of it.

This is a great place to start and learn.I believe with the little we know about your situation, you would be a perfect candidate to look into the "househack'" of a duplex. 

Since you’re listing yourself, you can time the market strategically, a short wait of a week or two for full completion is unlikely to hurt, and it ensures the property shows perfectly.

I fear if I do this, tenants may still see it as a perfect fire pit area and install their own...

This, combined with the promise of a cosmetic-only rehab and a 100% cash-out refi, sounds like a perfect-world sales pitch.

Don’t try to buy the “perfect” first dealBuy the right-sized deal you can learn from and comfortably hold for 10 years.Your first deal is about education just as much as profit.Most investors look back and say, “I wish I’d bought sooner, even if the first one wasn’t perfect.”You’re already ahead of 90 percent of people, now you just need one good, simple buy to break the paralysis.

If you’re doing all the searching and all the follow-up, it’s perfectly reasonable to find an agent who takes your goals seriously.

You don’t need fancy software.You just need enough structure to avoid the “pile of receipts in March” problem that slows so many beginners down.A clean foundation makes everything else easier — getting loans, running numbers, even working with contractors.It also builds the confidence you need to take the next step.So if you’re just starting out, don’t worry about having the perfect deal lined up.Focus on building simple habits that make you feel organized and in control.

Consistent reps beat waiting for perfect.

People respond to genuine energy and clear solutions, not perfect scripts.5.