We work hard to keep things positive and real estate-focused (no politics or religion).

Find a proven strategy and focus on that.

@Brian LuterYour focus on small multifamily and land acquisition is a strong strategy, especially for scaling and long-term value creation.

@NA NASince this is your first purchase, focus on finding a property where the numbers work, rather than just any deal.

I am primarily focused on appreciation, but would like some cashflow to keep the investment profitable year-to-year.

You'll want to focus on securing a favorable financing deal at the refinance stage—ideally, you want to pull out as much of your initial investment as possible while keeping monthly payments manageable.A big consideration is understanding your after-repair value (ARV) and ensuring the rehab costs add value in proportion to that.

If you're looking for ways to accelerate, consider these options:Seller Financing – Some sellers may finance a portion of the purchase price, reducing your need for a large down payment.DSCR Loans – These loans focus on property cash flow rather than personal income, often requiring only 15% down.Private Money Lenders – If you can find a PML willing to work with you, you may be able to put less down.Partnerships – If you’re open to splitting profits, you could bring in a partner who funds the down payment.Since you’re okay with the slower path, just keep stacking cash, but these might be worth exploring to move faster!

I am definitely focused on appreciation over cash flow.

One was conventional financing and the other was a portfolio loan from a local bank here in Hawaii, I also did a lot of research into DSCR loans during my search.I'm also an agent here on Oahu but focus mainly on Property Management, at the brokerage we manage roughly 50 units that are a mix of STR, MTR, and LTR's. 

Also, focus on 2 years of job/income stability.Class D Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, all cashflow with little, maybe even negative, relative rent & value appreciationVacancy Est: 20%+ should be used to cover nonpayment, evictions & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores under 560 (almost 30% probability of default), little to no good tradelines, lots of collections & chargeoffs, recent evictions.