Hi @Joseph BaenaHere is a tip for you as you get into RE investingThis website is a great reference point for figuring out what each area is like. https://www.areavibes.com/It gives you a total LIVABILITY score for each street and zip code.

i just have to be really, really patient.i will say though that i am actually heartened when a new investor does some math and figures out, correctly, that a miscellaneous deal with conventional debt will NOT cash flow. 

Being in NJ, market is super competitive, so need to figure out how I can maximize the profit.

Still trying to figure out which one I will stick with at the end of the day.  

We are actively investing in the Champaign market, selling an inheritance property in Central Florida and trying to figure out what to do with our long term lease in Phoenix, AZ that is currently costing us a few $100 vs. cash flowing :) Excited to meet others, would love to know of any in person meet ups in southern/central Illinois. happy to be here!

I'd really like to get into STR's and I'm trying to figure out how people find STR's that work even with a mortgage.

I know it will be important to have my ducks in a row and figured I could start now if I need to restructure debt. 

In time you'll figure out to not pay or try to learn from folks who used to be doers and who are now supporting themselves on coaching fees and weekends.   

You will need to supply more detail to your request to figure out which lender might be best for your project.

Unless you make $1000's per hour a little research and you can figure it all out yourself.