I was basically being double hit for my mortgage, hoa, etc; I was paying them all in my Schedule C, but then lenders were again adding it to my DTI as an expense.

The difference is I now have a path I’m comfortable with either way, and that peace of mind has been worth more than squeezing out a few extra doors.Ryan I totally agree with your philosophy and have never had more than 11.

You could do following:* Facebook ads* Google Ads* Targeted direct mail approach* Cold calling* SMS

Should I spend the extra in better markets that have a higher appreciation, or is it ok to use cash flow to slowly work into markets that cash flow less but have better long term benefits?

Duplexes often look better on gross rent, but repairs, turnover, and management tend to show up more frequently than with a single unit, so I try to underwrite those conservatively.For practice, I’ve found it helpful to compare a duplex against a comparable single-family rental in the same area and ask whether the extra income is actually compensating for the added complexity and risk.

Appraisers also struggle with this—they might not give you full credit for that extra square footage if the finish quality doesn't match the rest of the house.Since you're worried about resale, I would run a quick comp search specifically for homes without garages in that neighborhood.

They've added new features over time (security deposit return) and they usually feel quite intuitive.

When projects run longer than expected or properties sit just a little longer, financing costs quietly add up and eat into profits fast.Those extra months of interest, taxes, insurance, and utilities don’t seem like much individually, but together they can make a solid flip feel tight.

I was thinking adding a sofa sleeper to sleep a couple more people. 

I’m working with a property in Brown County, Indiana that is fully approved for STR use under current regulations and has a documented operating history ($70k–$110k gross; ~$450 ADR).Zoning restrictions prevent adding additional rental units on the parcel, so this is a single-asset STR where value is driven by privacy, acreage, and guest experience rather than scale.Curious how other STR owners think about long-term value and defensibility in markets where zoning has tightened significantly.Appreciate any operator insight.