I was asked to join a couple of real estate groups and this one fell in to my hands.

All groups have mentioned, wanting to try our hand at flipping independently, and I thought why not do it together. 

I dont really have a lot of cash on hand (due to renos) and don't have any big loans or LOC to draw from.I have a background in civil engineering and have a good understanding of residential housing and construction.

for example, you have the lehigh valley in PA just a couple hours away from you.i'll also say this. 

My goal is to help property owners navigate management challenges while ensuring their investments are well taken care of.I’d love to hear from experienced investors about what’s working in the Charleston market and share insights as I gain more hands-on experience.

Recognize there are challenges doing BRRRRs since the rate increases that have occurred in the last couple years

You will learn the most from first-hand experience.

Interesting as there were a couple of posts a year ago after the widely distributed article in the media essentially calling it a STR crash.

My experiences were a couple of years ago and I was originally told the appraisal had been assigned and the rate would be $780 but then later I was told that appraiser was cancelled and they'd found someone else who it was assigned it for $935.

.✅ Hands-On Experience – If you plan to grow your real estate portfolio, managing tenants yourself can teach you valuable lessons about leases, maintenance, and local rental laws.✅ More Control – You’ll personally handle tenant screening, rent collection, and property upkeep, ensuring everything is done to your standards.✅ Stronger Tenant Relationships – Being involved directly allows you to build rapport with your tenants, which can lead to better communication and longer leases.Cons of Self-Managing❌ Time-Consuming – Dealing with maintenance requests, late-night emergencies, and tenant disputes can quickly become a second job.❌ Legal Risks – Chicago has strict landlord-tenant laws.