Property management, construction, maintenance, Realty, Beverage, energy, etc...

Any state you invest in will require time and energy, more upfront until you build a trustworthy team.

., etc. that you have to do for a larger tract you want to subdivide. 

Unfortunately we have a larger loan amount requirement.Good Luck

If the fixes are cosmetic or minor, that’s a big plus, but if there are larger repairs (roof, plumbing, etc.), ensure you budget for those.

We signed up with the HERO program through a contractor called Elite Home Energy.

I say, you gave it a good go so listen to yourself and devote your energy to discovering your "Happy-REI" plan.

Now full disclosure, I am only a few months into my relationship with these providers so it could all blow up in my face, but ultimately I wanted to take action and for me this was the safest way to do that and I also figured the learning along the way might be worth giving up some larger returns. 

I find larger/more expensive houses in Emerald Lakes to fare better as investments.

Cash-out refinancing can be a great way to leverage equity, but there are other strategies you might want to consider to hit your goals faster.1.1031 Exchange: Rather than just refinancing, you could trade up to larger or better-cash-flowing properties tax-free through a 1031 exchange.