Probably go for that sweet spot in between.An architect is probably your best bet at this stage.

I had the same issue. thinking that i was in a good spot to sit and stack dough and tell my self "ok ill just save X over these next Y or so months," problem is - life happens and that time never came.

@Jerry Shank,With $500K and STR experience, you're in a great spot to scale.

Nice spot to be in.

You’ve got a solid background and it sounds like you’re in a great spot to start building your portfolio, you just need the right strategy to fund it.

Class B/C in stable neighborhoods is often a sweet spot for newer investors.Since you’re new, consider starting with a market that has good investor infrastructure—solid property managers, lenders familiar with investor loans, and local investor groups.

You’ll pick up a ton just by networking, talking to sellers, and learning how to spot value in deals. 

If you can master quick-turn rehabs now, you’ll be in a great spot when the market opens up more opportunities later this year.

I’d be happy to share tips or help you spot value feel free to DM if you'd like to chat!

This is an incredibly thoughtful take — and I really appreciate how you laid it out with both the practical and risk perspectives.You hit on something I see all the time when reviewing clients’ portfolios: private syndications look great on paper, but the lack of transparency and reporting creates blind spots that most investors don’t realize until something goes sideways.