I'm giving as much objective transparency as I can below.

I have a moderate amount of liquid capital available and substantial equity in my primary residence that I can potentially leverage, and I am exploring the purchase of my first duplex in Rockland, Maine.

So it really depends on your objectives.  

At the moment, I have enough funds for a downpayment (20%) on 2 properties, but I don't want to tie up all my money so I think I will purchase just one with a DSCR loan.

And sometimes, they lose their next purchase.  

Purchase price: $144,000 Value add fix & flip project in Houston, TX.

I am working up my second property purchase, and the sellers are listing it as FSBO.

If a property goes into foreclosure and the lender purchases it at the sheriff sale, the status shows "Purchased-Buy Back."

Having a county assessor not accept our purchase price for a property tax appraisal is not a problem I anticipated.While this is my first flip, I have had rental properties in California for many years.

Buyers get attached, sellers get defensive, and negotiations slow down when emotions take over.The investors who stay objective seem to make better long-term decisions.The more I learn, the more I think real estate is less about finding the perfect deal and more about how you handle yourself during the process.Curious what others think:What’s a quiet skill that has helped you more than numbers or strategy?