For example, maybe you will get to 10, 20, 30 houses and then find an owner who has a large portfolio and all of a sudden you are at a high door count and now need to hire, need to build your policy binder, and all the other stuff that comes with running a business.

For 5+ unit properties or commercial it is not as high.5.

UPDATE:  Just chatted with the city and learned that variances have a high threshold for approval.  

With comps ranging from $875K-$1M and your estimated build cost at $550K, the after-completion value gives you a significant equity cushion, making this project highly attractive to lenders.If you plan to hold and rent the property, you could refinance into a DSCR loan after construction, which bases lending on rental income rather than personal income.

Some of the materials we choose and asked him to pick up (such as flooring) he replaced with low quality materials, I assume to keep more of our money for himself. 

Highly recommend (I require) collecting first month's rent prior to handing over keys.

And I will stay in my condo until I can afford to buy a bigger place.However, with high interest rates, I’m reconsidering.

Rental arbitrage isn’t common in my area ( high point North Carolina) but I was planning on starting in another state.

If you think that the forums and the books have the same information and the same quality, do you read books at all?

The first agent is absolutely certain the house will sell in the high 400’s.