Getting multiple contractors involved will be your best bet to get a reliable estimate, though you need to come up with a scope of work.

Ps I'm all about giving back, so I would be interested in helping out some high school kids for sure, or getting involved with mentoring somehow.

My challenge is that the equity is siloed in a high number of properties which complicates our ability to draw against it and leverage that for operational and investment purposes.Do you all know of banks willing to work with investors and able to underwrite at the portfolio level, rather than having to apply for and open HELOCs on a per-property basis?

I moved to Florida in 2017 and have been involved in 45+ flips and currently manage over 36 units throughout Tampa Bay.

@Patrick Drury, I hadn't considered the different criteria for 4 units (and from what I can tell, it also applies to triplexes), so that's definitely something I'll have to consider.

While there are some deals 50 units or larger that transact without a broker involved, they're definitely few and far between.

Your scattered approach is going nowhere fast (analysis paralysis) and is highly likely to result in someone taking advantage of you:(Recommend:1) Figuring out what investment approach suits your skills & risk tolerance2) Determining where in the US to apply your chosen approach3) Learning everything you can about that market4) Networking & building contacts & team in the market5) Doing a "test" investment in that market to make sure your expectations are met6) Investing more if your expectations are met.-- If not, go back to step #1 as you many have chosen the wrong approach!

A portion of rental income can be applied to your income if separate units (not for bedrooms in your unit) which could bump the value a little, but this will pose a challenge. 

Make sure they are just a investor so there are no ulterior motives involved.

My role has taught me the importance of managing systems, understanding finances, and staying organized—skills I’m eager to apply to real estate investing.I’m a newbie in the real estate world but deeply motivated to learn and take action.