I have my eye set on a few empty lots with ideas to build duplex or single family homes.

It’s wild how life brings us full circle sometimes, and it sounds like you’re entering this next chapter with the exact mix of clarity and curiosity that commercial real estate needs more of.Retail in Chicago is a powerful niche, especially with the right eyes on value-add opportunities and community-driven tenants.

I'd agree, combine the two.The CRM is its data is your mine and need to keep control over it.The CRM also allows you to keep an eye on the business and supervise the VAs.

Grateful for the support from my circle. 

Inner Circle Retreat Puerto Rico....

Ever felt like you’re running in circles in your real estate business—working nonstop, but never really moving forward?

You will be hard pressed to find anyone in your immediate circle who understands investing, risk, cycles,ROI and life goals.

Circling back, anyone have insight... should taxes go down effective 1/1/26?

Something else you might consider that would help you learn while you earn and keep you in the right circles is loan orignation for lenders that offer Fix and Flip loans, and DSCR loans.

IF you know anyone high up the food chain at QB you should lobby them for the changes needed to make it more effective for RE investors :)I definitely have, and many others in my circle, escalated our requests and concerns to intuit.