Based on your numbers, and assuming you have a credit score high enough and have never filed for BK, you shouldn't have an issue getting approved for an HML to buy/rehab the property that I would estimate at about $370k-$375k (which includes 100% of the rehab costs).

Did have high quality photos/ great listing title and description?

Of the conversations I have had with people discussing hard money lending, some seemed opinionated in that the high interest rates and terms were enough to scare them off.

Would love cash flow, of course, but if I could at least break even on a highly appreciating property, I'd be happy with that. 

It was high rent, low entry point area but within 6 months I dealt with an eviction and electrical issues.

Quote from @Tom Hall: My mortgage rate is very high  and I would like to pay some of it off, so that my monthly payments would go down a bit, I dont know if it is financial smart to do it or not?

. - Prices are too high- Prices are falling- Interest rates are too high- My Cousins, Mothers, Sister told me that Real Estate is too riskyThere’s never a “perfect” time, but everyone wishes that they started sooner.

And when talking to a buy you say "ha, ha, ha, look at the deal we got, we got that person to give us all this $ from there cashflow"The whole thing wreaks to high hell. 

If you believe your property’s assessed value is too high, you have the right to challenge it.

I love that you have specific goals for 2025 - I believe if we think it, write it, say it, and share it our goals are 10x more likely to come to fruition.Are you able to do option 2 and just house hack a 2-4 unit building and use a renovation loan which allows you to put down 3.5-5%I highly suggest getting to some local chicago meetup groups (we have an in person one on the 17th)...here is BPs list: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...I also have a full list of the chicago meetups that I can share with you too if that'd be helpful.