Hi @Elaine Raymond,We ran into this same issue a couple of years ago and decided to do the basement house hack as a substitute for a traditional duplex.

I would check with the GC to see where you can save money by substituting products where feasible.

That can point you in the general direction and perhaps focus you on some key questions, but there is no substitute for a one-on-one consultation with an expert in the field (or more than one).

Long-distance is a great way to go IF you have the right people with similar interests in your team.There is no substitute for quality education so keep learning but don't get stuck in the Analysis-Paralysis Stage.Goodluck

Shared House (Private Room) / Budget Lodging - substitution for like motel or economy stays at $40-70/night. - this is the type I focus on, where 3-5 working professionals will live together, each with a private room, and share the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry.

This is no substitute to actually going out there and doing, hopefully the next time comes out with a better conclusion.

I was curious if anyone on here could recommend a national or country wide lender that lends on a deal by deal basis (Yes I know, the better the deal the more likely-hood of them funding in the 2nd position) with ideal payoffs in the 3-6 months range.Secondly, I was curious if a Transactional lender would be an appropriate substitute since they are already in the short term lending game or if I would have the same issue of them not taking on a 2nd position unless the deal screamed "BUY ME" at em.Thanks and I look forward to reading your replies.

Done correctly, pictures, videos, online neighborhood databases, and virtual tours can be good substitutes for in-person tours.Considering it’s your first out-of-state rental property, try to find a reputable, full-service property manager that’s local to the area you want to invest in.

I'd stay local even if 'local' is 2 or 3 or 4 hours away.There is just no substitute for being hands on.

This is called the principle of substitution.