New Investor: Go Conventional or Use Hard Money?

[Jamy Lomento]

I'm a new investor seeking my first SFH. I have enough cash to cover a 20% down payment and repairs but would like to use as little of my own money as possible. I plan to buy in the next 90 -120 days, then cash out refi to purchase another property by end of 2QCY24 and do the same to obtain a multifamily by year-end 2024. For my first property and to deliver on this strategy, should I look for something turnkey and needing little reno and go conventional OR look for something I can get for 80% of purchase price, force equity through reno, and use hard money to cover down payment and reno costs?