And then I applied some leverage knowing that if they did not want to move forward that I would find another interested Buyer who was clearly ok without having the Certificate and knowing it was always used as a 2 family. 

Develop a clear plan, set milestones, and remember that building wealth through real estate is a marathon, not a sprint.Good luck!

However, I did make a purchase in Pgh that is cash flowing,  but no equity so now I see more clearly what you meant when you said it’s better to have equity in the long run. 

I personally like having a separate PM company for many reasons since it clearly separates staff and other resources into one bucket.

They've made it very clear that you are not allowed to use their service for calling homeowners with distressed properties.

The key is having a clear plan and taking action.Start by building a strong team—find contractors, realtors, and property managers you trust.

The heavy cleaning and repair costs after longer stays are definitely pain points but I've seen my clients make it work by screening the tenants more carefully for MTRs, doing bi-monthly checks to catch issues early, and writing clear lease terms about maintaining the property.

Hey @Michael Dallas, it sounds like you've put a solid offer on the table—10% interest-only on $95k is competitive, especially with a clear 2-year exit plan.

Have a clear cut buy box: i.e.

Let me be clear, I'm not the wife in this situation.