My first flip was a HUD foreclosure with no money down—far from perfect, but I learned a ton about budgeting and contractors.

Quote from @Jake Baker: @Andrew Syrios I looked at my last five flips to calculate the rehab cost overrun; the average was 15%.

Rob just finished 1 flip.

Start with your primary, rent out any spare bedrooms "house hack"Use that to practice upgrades, kitchen, bathroom, curb appeal... etcNow you have experience as a landlord and flipper, use that to buy a distressed propertyAdd 40% equity to the property through home makeover, refinance into a low cost mortgageNow you are cashflowing a healthy margin on a second property, use that to build equity over time, cashout later and buy your duplex/quad.If it's going to take you 10 years to save up a down payment for a small apartment building, yeah it makes more sense to start growing your portfolio with cheap SFR flips instead.Every market is different, every borrower is different, every property is different, it would be ill-advised to recommend anything without recognizing the individual's nuanced goals and objectives with their next acquisition.

I feel like every project has its curveballs, and sometimes it’s the unexpected stuff that teaches us the most. Maybe it was a hidden issue that turned into a big project, or a small upgrade that made all the differen...

In that way I was able to scale quickly, doing multiple flips and BRRRRS per year.

What if I fix & flip instead of rent, can it pull actual sales comps and group by renovated and estimate the ARV?

If you use a HELOC I would do a project where you can pay it back(BRRR, Flip) and not keep a balance. 

I've flipped several properties in Eastwood Hills East and surrounding neighborhoods, with about half selling to homeowner occupants and the other half sold to investors with tenants already in place.That said, the specific property you're considering is key.

You say you are new to flipping so maybe consider teaming up with someone more experienced for your first flip to increase your success rate?