I started out with the other guys, getting a couple LLC's done but became disappointed with them because of response time, and conflicting information.

Wake county is an excellent market as a whole and its investment-property sector may be extremely competitive, but is well worth the effort. 

I’m a single dad to two young boys, which is a big motivator behind my goal: to transition into a more flexible, family-friendly lifestyle while building long-term financial security.I’m calling this my Exit Plan Strategy, and real estate is a big piece of it.So far, I’ve:Read Long-Distance Real Estate Investing, BRRRR, and Rental Property InvestingBuilt my own Excel analyzer (profitability, cash flow, cap rate, amortization, 1% rule, etc.)Set aside ~$50k–$60k in startup capitalStarted identifying markets and partners (realtors, contractors, PMs)Focusing on value-add rentals, flips, or BRRRR in desirable-but-undervalued areasI’d really appreciate help with:Recommended software or tools for remote market analysisTips from anyone who got started while still working full-timeAdvice for evaluating smaller multifamily or distressed propertiesMistakes you wish you’d avoided on your first dealAny Montana-specific or Western U.S. insights (but I’m open to investing anywhere)If anyone’s open to chatting or mentoring, I’d be extremely grateful.

If you do not have experience with that, it might be wise to approach with extreme caution or avoid altogether. 

Verifying last 2-years of rental history and income/employment extremely important to find the “best of the worst”.Tenant Default: 20-30% probability of eviction or early lease termination.Section 8: Class D rents meet program requirements, often challenges to pass Section 8 inspection.Vacancies: 20%+, depending on market conditions and tenant screening.Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, all cashflow with little, maybe even negative, relative rent & value appreciation.Where did we get our FICO credit score information from?

You know - keep doing the same unsuccessful thing, keep getting the same disappointing results - don’t accept advice from anyone who is actually successful and experienced - somehow find the one person least likely to provide competent counsel, pay big $ for bad advice from someone with limited experience and a large bias disguised as a “mentorship”.  

Living in a home you are renovating while balancing a full time job in mortgage lending is extremely challenging.

Do they take the time to address investor concerns and reach out and call an investor when he expresses disappointment as results are not what was anticipated?

My ML model then analyzes available property listings combined with market data (crime rates, appreciation trends, school scores, etc.) to recommend properties that align with the user’s goals — cash flow, growth, or safety.I’m trying to be extremely careful to ensure that my system does not cross any legal lines, especially with regard to Fair Housing laws or algorithmic bias concerns.While the model doesn’t discriminate on protected classes (race, gender, etc.), it does consider factors like crime rates, school quality, and local economics — all of which can indirectly overlap with sensitive social patterns.

Complete a cost seg study - combined with leverage it is feasible to deduct your entire equity contribution in year 1.I have a client who acquired a few STRs a while back.The bonus depreciation helped her offset $250,000 in income that would have been taxed at 40%+.This is a huge advantage for non real estate professionals.And why buying short term rentals can be extremely lucrative from a tax savings perspective for high income earners.