Improve Credit, Or Start Investing?

[Account Closed]

Hello all! First post here!

I'm based in Canada, 31 years old and currently working as a Commercial Real Estate broker. Love the industry and now want to start building my "empire" of residential investment properties.

I'm not in the best financial situation:

- Credit card balances of $30K (I'm still recovering from the loss of a former business. No bankruptcy thankfully, just closed it)

- Poor credit score, at 612 - mainly due to these balances and lots of applications for credit over the past few years

- Own home, but not enough equity to refinance

Question is, should I take some time to improve my credit score, or start finding creative ways to finance my first deal?

We're actually recovering well from our former financial situation, and I cleared $100K in commercial deal commissions last year to pay down 50% of our balances. At one time we owed $80,000!

Anyway, just wondering where I should be focusing my efforts right now. Any advice appreciated!