I personally like the credit card balance transfer check route, since it's interest-free for a decent amount of time (aside from an initial 3.00% fee). 

I would then proceed with the STR and let the HOA initiate a law suit. 

We initially were able to yield $408 per month ~ post purchase.

I went through the initial 2 months having to fix even the most minor of issues that other tenants would normally be very adjusting.

I'm KT, a realtor here in Little Rock, and I'd be happy to help you in any way I can as you begin your real estate investing journey.Starting a real estate company to generate revenue is a fantastic goal, and I commend you for taking the initiative to learn and prepare now.

I’d like to keep it with me only having equity and just paying partner back set interest rate until initial down payment is returned plus interest.

Here are some initial important questions, in addition and in line with what my guy @Andrew Freed said:1.

While renovations faced delays, and initial rental demand was slower than anticipated due to construction setbacks at the casino, the property is now performing well as a long-term rental.

Preferably since we are younger sponsors we initially avoid high octane bridge loans, instead vying for capitalizing renovations with equity and a 5-yr fixed rate loan.

If you have pre-tax and post tax Roth funds in the existing 401k, you will initiate a rollover into a newly formed Solo 401(k), with some funds dropping into the pre-tax bucket and Roth funds dropping into Roth bucket. 3) 3 benefits that I find many real estate investors are attracted to with the Solo 401(k): 1) Higher Contribution Limits (providing you have enough earned income) 2) Ability to contribute to Roth, without MAGI limits where you have to do a backdoor contribution, like you do a Roth IRA. 3) Exemption from UBIT/UDFI on debt financed real estate deals, this could be directly, or through a syndication type deal. 4) Now, we can proceed with, what about the caveats and qualifications to open and maintain a Solo 401(k): 1) You need to have earned income from the business/sole prop. that is sponsoring the Solo 401(k).