I think I've done my bookkeeping almost every way you can - from not at all -> keeping receipts in a shoebox and handing over the entire shoebox to my CPA -> running 10-key tapes on all the receipts for each category and handing those tapes to my CPA -> DIY Quickbooks -> paying a bookkeeper to manage everything in Quickbooks -> to now doing it myself using Baselane.

I think the key is doing solid due diligence and making sure you're lending on projects with good margins and clear exit strategies.

The other half is mostly turn key, light move in ready, section 8 work that is financed from the start.  

Putting in place policies and systems to handle that will be key otherwise you'll always be working or at least be on-call.  

I’ve had a great experience with Brian Hartsell at key properties for my vegas properties. 

That is the key difference.

While the RentRedi's loaded with various toggles/buttons and affordable given the all-you-can-eat pricing, the interface is still very elementary and lacking in usability/design, which is often overlooked as a key determinant of whether your team actually adopts and fully leverages powerful management solutions like these.

.- Focus on Key Military & Expat Cities: Target locations like Ramstein, Wiesbaden, Rota, Naples, Seoul, or Yokosuka, where thousands of U.S. personnel need housing.- Offer Fractional Ownership or Managed Rentals: Investors own a share of multiple properties while you handle property management.- Leverage Serviced Housing & Co-Living Models: High-end, furnished rentals for military professionals, digital nomads, and traveling contractors.Example Strategy- Raise $1M from 10-20 investors (military/gov personnel) to buy 3-5 properties in Germany or Spain.- Use seller financing & local bank loans to maximize purchasing power.- Rent properties to military families, U.S. contractors, or co-living tenants for stable cash flow.- Utilize local tax incentives and investment visas to increase ROI.Why This Could Be a Billion-Dollar Play- Solves a real problem for U.S. military/gov professionals looking to invest overseas.- Provides stable, built-in demand (military personnel have guaranteed salaries & housing stipends).- Creates an alternative wealth-building strategy for a niche group of investors.- More scalable than traditional rentals.

We invested $55,000 in key renovations, focusing on modernizing the interiors, improving curb appeal, and ensuring the property met market expectations.

The other key to me taking out the loan is that I have enough reserve cash that if I lost my job I could pay the money back right away.