Just depends on how much you want to cash flow, your down payment, loan type... and what areas you're open to (in terms of neighborhood ratings - C/D areas cash flow well but the trade off is a higher chance that rehab is needed between tenants).

what I like about MLS is you can go through a normal buying process. .wholesalers want to hype their deals info is wildly incorrect.. they want up front NON refundable deposits and your not getting any of that back.. they just try to create a false sense of urgency.MLS you take your time make your offers you can offer less you protect your EM you have inspections you can re trade within your contract time lines etc etc..MUCH more buyer protection that way.. the market will dictate the final outcome.. not a wholesaler hype machine and no real due diligence.

For the purpose of adopting a Solo 401k Plan, the IRS and tax code care about "trade or business" activity.What is a "trade or business?" 

.  :-)My Baltimore City permits average about $50 per trade...

Repeat the above procedure and get a Roofing cert, chimney cert, HVAC, plumbing, electrical cert or statement of recent service and opionion of condition, etc for any other prefessional trade that might be an issue.

Trying to forecast the trajectory of rising mortgage rates is complex due to market variables like inventory levels and potential interest rate shifts.

Smaller local markets are harder to nail down accurate ARVs and find reliable trade labor.Regarding managing general contractors, I've heard some horror stories from our owners who have worked with GCs they've never met.

The other side of it is that paying 5 or 7% for a heloc to invest in something that is making you 8 - 10% is a pretty good trade - especially if the other option is taking a 20% hit and then investing the rest. 

One of the misconceptions investors have is they open a LLC for real estate and owning rentals and think they can get business credit, which would be like opening a LLC to trade stocks - business must be operating and generate revenue and EBITDA

You can get some education, network with other investors, trades, lenders etc., that may be looking to partner with someone with your skill set or time availability.