The environment problems seem to be much worse in Tulum.

They are all very different environments. 

What happens when you add purchasing power into a product shortage environment?

Acquiring nicer assets not only provides a better living environment for tenants but also contributes to long-term appreciation and value.

You pay off the 135k loan and take back your 14k plus closing and holding costs - 20k and you are left with about 6k that is cash in your pocket.So now you are +6k, and you have a renter in there paying your mortgage and putting a couple hundred per month in your pocket and you used 0 of the 150k to do it, or I should say you left 0 in the project.You wanna create a funnel, an environment where you can get 3x - 5x of these done every year, and if you holding look for the 2 - 4s buildings. 

Your numbers are way too tight, especially in today's environment.  

They both have great places to visit.Neither have the environment diversity of CA, but if you have no interest in the ocean the difference is less.  

Quote from @Bruce Schussler: A lot of Podcasts and Youtuber's say to cash-out refinance to keep rents balanced with payment; (PITI) then use those funds strategically to re-invest either in more real estate or just put into a high interest bearing account or money market account...Here's some of my thoughts and comparisons;Cash-out refinance with new loan so rents balance with payment:- The cash-out refinance is 100% tax free- The funds can be put into a money-market account off-setting a portion of the interest charge of loan- The loan balance gets eventually destroyed by inflation- The liquid cash eventually gets destroyed by inflation - The interest on the new loan can be deducted from the rent income- The refinance costs are 3-4% of the total- There is less equity in the property and LLC that can be attached in case of a lawsuit- The break-even on cash-out refinance with current interest costs on the new loan is around 12 years Vs.Paid-off property with positive cash flow:- The positive rent income is 100% taxable minus only depreciation and property tax- There is more equity in the property and LLC that can be attached with a lawsuit- The break even is not until after 12 years at today's interest rates- There is a rate risk in today's inflationary environment where interest rates on bonds keep rising*It appears to me that the cash-out refi is in the best interest for a property investor; (Dave Ramsey would strongly disagree!)

There are very few sellers of notes right now, so who are you buying and selling too.You are going to be sadly dissappointed and realize after 3-6 months you probably wasted your money.Your best bet is to join some groups on FB or elsewhere and start to learn that way.Let me ask you this question: Have you spoken to any note investor out there to ask them about the environment today to actually get into notes? 

Tough environment to focus on studies.