Any common mistakes to avoid or best practices that helped you make it a smooth process?

Eli Lilly recently relocating to the areaDevelopment Hotspot: New residential and mixed-use developments continue to emerge near downtown and the George Liles Parkway corridor.Infrastructure: Ongoing road expansions and improved transit access to Charlotte increase long-term investment appeal.Kannapolis, NCRevitalized Downtown: Anchored by the $100M+ investment in the North Carolina Research Campus, a biotech research hub.Stadium & Entertainment: Atrium Health Ballpark brings foot traffic and drives short-term rental appeal.Attraction Growth: Proximity to breweries, trails, and new retail makes it increasingly desirable for both renters and buyers.Price Momentum: Rapid appreciation signals early gentrification and potential equity growth for investors.Investor Takeaways-Concord offers more stabilized pricing and growing inventory — a good opportunity to buy in a major employment center.

I thought this is so smooth.

Not so much in bad locations that are boom/bust or for properties where the underwriting depends entirely on low vacancy rate and smooth operating, which doesn’t always happen.  

Is it hard to transition from that structure once you are a more advanced/seasoned investor? 

If it’s just the two of you and you're still acquiring properties, it might be worth starting in your personal names for financing flexibility, then transitioning into an LLC or trust structure down the line.

For rent collection, KeyCheck uses Stripe, which has worked smoothly for me so far.

In some scenarios we even put the person(s) in a hotel or transitional housing for 3-6 months while we flip the property. 

Make sure you’re working with a lender who has experience with 203(k) loans and a contractor who understands the program’s requirements.2.Loan Process Can Be Slow – Unlike a standard mortgage, the lender will be heavily involved in the renovation funds, which means more paperwork and potential delays.3.Strict Repair Guidelines – The work has to improve the home’s safety and livability, so luxury upgrades usually don’t qualify.4.Living Through Renovations – If you go with a Limited 203(k) (up to $35K in repairs), it’s usually manageable, but for a Standard 203(k), major work might require you to live elsewhere for a bit.It’s a solid strategy, just make sure you’re working with the right lender and contractor so things go smoothly.

I ended up having her step in to help me show the seller what the real value of the property was, and she saved me a lot more than her commission plus made the transaction go really smoothly and the seller and I stayed friends after.