@Scott VaethIf you live in part of the home and rent out rooms, you might be able to keep the lower 4% owner-occupied rate.Instead of a long-term rental that barely covers half the mortgage, could you do a rent-by-the-room model or target traveling professionals to increase cash flow?

Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.Finally, think critically about your long-term strategy.

The property will be strictly for investment purposes, not a primary residence.I’ve been looking into two potential financing options:Hard Money Lenders (HML) – I’m drawn to this option for its speed in closing, but I know the rates can be higher.DSCR Loans – This seems like a great option for long-term rentals, but I’m unsure if it’s the right fit for my auction property since it might need some rehabbing.I’m also considering purchasing through a land trust or an LLC to add a layer of protection and privacy.So, my questions are:What’s the best way to approach financing for auction properties?

After the HELOC, it would drop down to about $450 per month.My goal is long term equity and appreciation, and not cash flow.

What about rate and term refinancing?

We are now doing short term rentals but we're thinking about changing to a small wedding venue. 

Real estate is an excellent avenue to help you achieve those goals, especially since it can create both passive income and long-term wealth.

Even if someone in these forums were to teach you a creative financing strategy that required zero out of pocket cash and the seller was willing to accept those deal terms, you still aren’t qualified to own real estate with your current balance sheet.

My mother is a RE agent back home in California (30+ years), I have one rental property in Virginia Beach, and I'm mostly interested in BRRRRs, flips, and long/medium-term multifamily properties.

The amount of equity I call pull is less than the cash I have but not significantly less.When doing this analysis it struck me that it may not be worth using a HELOC for the simple fact that the interest rate is ~9%* while the funds in my high yield account are only yielding ~5%*.