Start by writing your buy box (property type, price band, rent range, condition), practice the BRRRR math on 10 real listings, then talk to three investor‑friendly lenders and two private lenders to learn terms and build credibility; your edge is speed, clarity, and follow‑through.

Since REP can wait till 2026, make 2025 your foundation year: lock a tight STR buy box that works on conservative, non-peak rates, confirm Westminster regs before every offer, and underwrite each deal two ways (STR base case and midterm fallback).

Next move: define one target submarket and a buy box, then run five real listings through a basic cash flow calc to see what actually pencils.This guidance makes a lot of sense and gives me a clear path forward.

Layer referrals by telling every PM, GC, loan officer, and title rep your buy box and asking, “Who do you know that needs a fast, as‑is sale?”

.- Provide white noise machines, box fans, and earplugs in each bedroom.- Are any of the bedrooms on the roadside of the house? 

To stack wins, lock your numbers and your team before demo: define your buy box and profit target, get two exit plans on every deal (sell or wholetail/rent if days-on-market stretch), line up funding and a backup lender, and get three bids with a needs vs. wants scope tied to ROI, not finishes.

However, if your property checked all the right boxes (and given your strong credit), there is a program that executes well and is at the terms below. • 6.075% rate• 30-year fixed• 5 year PPP (5/4/3/2/1)• 2 point origination (or 6.225% for 1 point origination)• $1,495 underwrite/admin feeHopefully this gives you a good idea of the different terms that are available out there. 

Start with two weekly reps: pick a buy box in one submarket, then analyze five active listings using rent-to-price and a local PM’s take to sanity-check numbers.

I looked for a long time to find the duplex that checked off my buy box requirements.

Three workable paths: 1) Tenant hauls to the dump with a required cadence, photo proof, and a fee if trash accumulates. 2) Landlord provides monthly curbside service to a can at the road, plus a small shed or bear‑box halfway down for staging; add a modest rent bump to cover it. 3) Hybrid: landlord schedules a twice‑monthly haul by a local hauler; tenant brings bags to a designated bin area near the house.