Hey Zach, lots of reasons: 1) Local Expertise: For instance, My primary states are Hawaii and Washington.

A better option would be to partner with someone who can bring the capital needed in exchange for you contributing your time, labor/effort, and expertise.

I believe there is no better place  than Bigger Pockets to find the most expertise.

That experience taught me the importance of leaning on local expertise, even if it feels like an unnecessary expense at first.One strategy I’ve seen work occasionally is offering the tenant a “cash for keys” deal, where you pay them a small amount to vacate voluntarily.

There are some lenders that will look at DTI for investment properties, but that's out of my area of expertise.

Jeremy, your experience as a military civil engineer and project manager is so impressive—I’m sure all that expertise will be a huge asset as you dive into commercial real estate.

thank you all for the great advice, I appreciate the expertise of the group. 

Thank you for your response, I truly value your time and expertise.

I’m not claiming to know it all—I’m here to learn, build relationships, and grow.Here’s what I bring to the table:A strong understanding of leveraging Net Operating Income (NOI) to secure financing and reduce out-of-pocket costs.Experience in negotiating deals and identifying opportunities, especially in the LA market where many multi-family properties are under $2 million.Skills in managing larger properties, from scheduling repairs and upgrades to optimizing operations for long-term value.The ability to use AI tools for data analysis, market insights, and deal projections to help us act quickly and efficiently.I’ll be upfront—my funds are limited after dedicating the COVID years to supporting my family, but I have the work ethic and expertise to find and manage properties that perform.

A buddy of mine in Phoenix added a fenced yard and bunk beds to his listings.. nothing fancy, just a few tweaks.. and he went from crickets to getting three calls in two weeks.Preferred Landlord Program: This program gets you priority placement, and while ALE charges a fee, it's worth it for visibility.