Also, which choice is better for you highly depends on what your real estate goals are and the experience level & skillset of the specific agent.Traditional agent and Redfin Agent could essentially be the same thing in many cases.

Investment Info:Small multi-family (2-4 units) buy & hold investment.

There is quite a few forums that already discuss this topic, but buying 1-4 units in an LLC with a DSCR loan also comes with higher rates at the cost of using an LLC

@Lillian Pintaro,Birmingham’s a lucrative market—it’s been my stomping ground for nearly 20 years, and you can find some excellent deals if you know what you’re after and dive deep by zip code, neighborhood, and city block.For what it’s worth, we manage 2,000+ units (many for out-of-state investors) mostly in the north and west part of town—so think suburbs outside the city limits like Graysville (35073), Adamsville (35005), Mount Olive (35117), Center Point (35215), and the like.Since you’re also open to the surrounding areas, places like Odenville (to the east) and Tuscaloosa (to the southwest) could be worth checking out.

I house hacked this 4-unit property start year of 2022, moved out in a triplex in 2023.

You could potentially put as little as 3% down if it's a single family home and 5% down for 2-4 units.

They host regular meetups, workshops, and networking events that attract investors across all levels, including those focusing on multi-family and commercial properties.

Depending on your finances you don't necessarily need to start with a duplex, but I wouldn't go any more than 4 unit if you're going residential.

Investment Info:Small multi-family (2-4 units) buy & hold investment.

Syndication Reporting IssuesMissing Form 8918 for reportable transactionsInconsistent investor disclosuresRequired registrations skippedWhat Doesn't Actually Matter:(Despite What Your Uncle's CPA Says)Special AllocationsNormal promote structuresStandard waterfall provisionsTypical developer promotesReality: Unless extremely aggressive, IRS rarely caresTechnical DocumentationMinor §704(b) gapsCapital account glitchesTechnical allocation languageTruth: Unless hiding something biggerProperty Value AllocationsNormal basis step-upsTypical appreciation splitsStandard promote calculationsReal World Example:🏢 100-unit apartment complex4 partners, $5M dealDeveloper promote structure= Zero IRS interestSame Deal With Red Flags:🏢 100-unit apartment complexHidden partner arrangementsArtificial loss allocationsUnreported debt shifts= IRS AttentionPractical Protection Steps:Basic Documentation✅ Clean operating agreement✅ Economic substance✅ Partner contributions tracked(Don't need War & Peace complexity)Economic Reality✅ Allocations match economics✅ Real money movement✅ Actual partner participationClean Reporting✅ Consistent K-1s✅ Required forms filed✅ Clear communicationThe "Sleep Well" Test:Can you explain your structure to an IRS agent without sweating?