Quote from @Leslie L Meneus: @Kristi Kandel is that open to everyone. 

Ask them if they'd mind sharing their experience with you.. if they'd recommend the area or not, and lastly if they could maybe send you a P/L sheet to see their income, expenses etc.You might run into some hosts that aren't responsive or any help, but it just takes a few people to share insight to get a good idea of the market you're dealing with.

@Nicholas L.

@April L.

I don't doubt that guys like me and you will succeed over a long enough time frame due to drive, ability to go do it, and determination, but the timeline shifts drastically due to the momentum killing L's we took early in our career.This is why it's hard to compare yourselves to the real estate winners of the past decade. 

Check out the threads that Nicholas L. linked to above then use the search function and you will find literally dozens more like it and begin to understand what can go wrong. 

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/93/topics/1224328-new-l...here is a thread I just did on Oregons new law that takes effect July 1 2025.

Quote from @Nicholas L.: @Zach Howardyou can usually post enough information in a thread without the address and people will usually happily help you analyze deals. 

If you go back to work as self employed, there are some NonQM programs out there that can do a cash out refi after just 1 year of bank statements or P&L. 

Quote from @Nicholas L.: @Michael Ewersi can only speak for what i've done as i suspect it varies by market.