The wire instructions I received were also different from the entity listed on the contract, but in my case, they explained that the funds needed to be sent directly to the contractors handling the rehab, which aligned with the project’s structure.I proceeded, and everything went smoothly, with clear communication and regular updates throughout the process.

Does anyone have a recommendation on how they handle presentations to investors?

Every dollar spent on operating expenses reduces your potential income.

If I would have known about these earlier I would have bought less personal real estate, but again it depends on your goals of leverage, building wealth, risk, and your overall perception on how to handle your money.      

Apparently they handle all property repairs and maintenance independently and have maintained a perfect payment history, even throughout the pandemic.Lease Option Agreement:Effective Date: November 1, 2022Terms:Purchase Price: $165,000Non-Refundable Down Payment: $10,000Lease Term: 3 years (ends October 31, 2025)Final Payment: $158,000 balance due upon term completionMonthly Payment: $1,150 (no rent credits)I didn't see this to be a deal because if in a the best case scenario my $25000 would walk away with 2400 which is about a 9% ROI.

House hacking can reduce living expenses but may limit roommates or share space.

If you share a house with multiple roommates, you could significantly reduce cash flow.Good luck on your real estate journey, and keep us updated!

Should I be prioritizing finding a local expert, or are there tools and strategies I can use to handle this process myself?

If you can handle that kind of discomfort, I'd recommend moving to an emerging market and house-hacking (that's what I did).

Ok so I thought $1250 for a 3day course, (a usb which did not work and still waiting to receive a new one after emailing back and forth for a month now-they did however let me access it online instead), I can handle that.