It’s easy to get excited and move fast, especially when someone says “you’re pre-approved,” but the fine print can make or break a deal’s cash flow.Also agree 100% on 3rd Federal — their HELOC terms are super investor-friendly if you’re in one of the states they serve.

Sit down, and see if you can bird dog for them, ask if you find a deal can you partner with them to get the deal done, and the last thing that would be a great move is working for that person while you are working and getting paid you are learning the ropes. 

SmartMove by TransUnion is also reliable and tenant-paid. 

If so, how is their commission usually paid?

Often it depends on how and when they get paid for their job.

Should I talk to a lender to try and get pre-approved, or at least see what I can do to get that ball rolling?

I have been less active on the investor homefront dealing with an unexpected curveball I got thrown in life.Still have big goals for Q1 2025: -Get Pre Qual'd for VA construction loan(may be until later in the quarter as I also have to refi out of my current VA loan to regain full entitlement.

Her rent is paid 100% by Chicago Housing Authority.

You do have to have sales skills and a great follow up process but ifthe lead is free first, you're paying more in commissions every timewithout sharpening your sales skills.I've been in both positions as an Acquisition Manager.Except, I was either paid a fixed salary or I can get a big % of every deal closed on theprofit of the total rehab when the house sells.A fixed salary made me incredibly lazy, because no matter what happenedwith a lead, there seemed to be no loss.Until I looked at my numbers when I switched to a higher commission pay structure only.Isn't that funny how it was the opposite scenario of paid lead generation?

The prices have come down since the pandemic peak but still above pre-pandemic levels so for long terms investors Austin is still on growth trajectories.