They were very nice and told me that I shouldn’t return the month’s rent to their insurance company, considering it was an issue beyond my control.

If you plan to use the remaining HELOC for a DSCR or BRRR strategy, that could help you build more equity, but consider if the current market conditions will lead to higher rates and lower cash flow in the near term.If your goal is to scale, you might consider holding onto your current duplex for the cash flow and focusing on the BRRR/DSCR strategy, which can allow for more control and potentially better long-term returns.

His disciplined approach demonstrates that opportunities persist for those who understand their market and control costs.

You can tell when someone seems a little shady–when it feels like they’re not quite giving you the whole story.If I were considering a business to buy and everything looked fantastic on paper, but I wasn’t getting a good feeling from the seller, I’m not buying that business.Because as someone who has sold a business, I know there are things I could have hidden from my buyer.

I want to build a strong foundation now so that I can create passive income and have more control over my future.

It sounds like you’ve got a solid foundation with your rental property, and I love the ambition behind your plans to build a property management and maintenance company—it’s a great way to take control of your investments while creating additional opportunities.Best of luck to you! 

Your financial background is a huge asset, and it’s great that you’re starting locally in Milwaukee while keeping an eye on future expansion.If you’re looking to connect with like-minded investors, the Rental Property Association of Wisconsin is a fantastic resource for networking with rental portfolio owners, accessing legal resources, and finding contractors. https://www.aasew.org/For mentors, funding sources, and flippers, the Milwaukee REIA is another great group to explore. https://www.milwaukeereia.com/I’m a member of both and find unique value in each—maybe we’ll cross paths at a future meeting!

Often times, there's houses or land worth $500k listed with an opening bid of $30k which is a fantastic deal; however, if you were to win the auction, there may be multiple liens and $100s of thousands of hidden fees that you have to pay at once (based on what I read online).

Austin is a fantastic market, with its growing tech presence and vibrant culture, making it a great choice for your future career. 

If you have checkbook control you’ll have a bank account with a bank that has FDIC insurance up to $250k per account.