You may have to deal with negative cash flow while your living there ( basically pay rent)  - add improvements that add value to the property so that when you do move out, you can increase the rent.

The community in Linden rolled out the ONE Linden Plan which was a 50M plan to improve the neighborhood.

Focus on improving your income and reducing expenses.

Here’s why it might be a smart move:Maximize ROI: With leverage, you can control a larger asset value with a smaller initial investment, potentially increasing your returns as the property appreciates.Preserve Liquidity: Keep your cash available for other investments or emergencies while still participating in lucrative real estate opportunities.Tax Benefits: Deductible mortgage interest and expenses can lower your taxable income, enhancing profitability compared to an all-cash purchase.If you have the means to buy with cash initially, you can later refinance to unlock equity for further investments or improvements.

The property's initial condition provided a strong opportunity for improvement and profit.

Our improvements included updating the interior finishes, improving the landscaping, and ensuring the home was move-in ready.

If you shield your properties into LLC your personal Dept to income ratio will improve but the lender can still ask for PNL of the LLC or declaration to check if it cashflow positive.I would find a lender who is working with investors and would count all your streams of the income. 

I do suspect most purchases in San Diego start more negative, but they improve each year.  

I asked for a slick opportunity to give my tenants free charging for a year, instead I have been offered the opportunity to improve Blinks business model to apartment owners.   

Are you interested in creating your own fund to actively purchase and improve properties in Opportunity Zones near you, or are you looking for a more passive OZ investment?