Quote from @Edgar Duarte: hi allI would love to get some perspective from your expertise, we have a property that we would have to sell in 2025 to avoid paying taxes on the capital gains, we believe we rcan sell it for $700K and get an equity of almost $500K after paying the mortgage balance, if we invest all of it option in index funds at 7% rate (standard com growth calculator), or in more rental properties as we are all here for, I can get the equity of around $900K.option B would be keep paying the house at 2.3% int rate while we have it in AirBnB and maybe sell it in 10 years for $900K, knowing that we would be paying taxes but it is not that bad still. or we can 1031 at that point?

The credit thing should not be an issue for many DSCR folks like myself. 80% ltv may be an option, but,I have seldom found the tradeoff in cost/rate to be worth it in the last 12 months. 0% origination is possible, but, as others have said compensation is received in one fashion or another (higher rate, processing fee, etc.).

Your mentor’s advice about starting with a rental property is solid, and a duplex could be a great option for house hacking.

The work around is part of the application process is to tour the property, but still, why put yourself in that position?

It is a positive working relationship.

You could structure the deal as an installment sale or a lease option so the property owner doesn't see a large capital gain tax payment for the sale.And good on you for helping out!

Happy to chat...being a local GC takes out a lot of the risk of the biggest variable for most investors (unpredictable rehab costs) and also allows you to consider more options than the average investor, with your rehab costs being significantly lower.

And, perhaps most importantly, make sure you have access to flexible financing options that can help you adapt to new market conditions.

Alot of unknowns as you don't have the ability to walk the property beforehand, but interesting process, and pretty good deals exist there.While the Trustee Sales are cash purchases, there are many hard money options that can turn over the funds in time for the 24 hour funding required to complete the purchase.If you are interested, let me know and I can go into more detail, as well as make some other suggestions for you to consider. 

These solutions can make a huge difference, and the long-term option will really help set your STR up for success.