What strategies do you recommend for securing hard money loans for spec builds?

The tax benefits refer to the tax deductions from mortgage interest and property tax.The returns mainly rely on appreciation, and the cash flow only improves in the last few years, also depending on securing the 5% refinance rate.I've learned a lot from this forum, but as I start to operate on my own, I'm still not completely confident.

Assuming plans are needed to secure a permit.

They’re asset-based, meaning the loan is secured by the property itself, and they often have quicker approval times but higher interest rates (think 10–15%) and fees.

Separate accounts per property incurs a lot of overhead, such as minimum balances or fees for missing the minimum.I use separate accounts for each tenant's security deposits.

It saved me when things got real (hello, crazy boyfriend with trust issues).Security Deposit: Non-NegotiableOne full month of rent as a security deposit (at the very least!)

If you have that experience, you probably don't need much marketing, as sellers will be reaching out to you directly.Focus on securing one listing at a time and building momentum.

2.Are there strategies to reduce the required down payment or secure better mortgage terms?

Traditional deals often don’t excite investors—offering $200/month in cash flow isn’t very compelling.But with co-living, you can offer 5X the returns, making it much easier to secure funding.Now, instead of asking an investor to put up a 20% down payment for $200/month cash flow, you can pitch them a 5% down investment yielding $1,000+/month—a much more attractive deal.Why Co-Living is the FutureCo-living isn’t just another strategy—it’s a high-demand, high-cash-flow, lower-risk investment model that aligns with today’s rental market trends.

Unless the medical condition meets the state criteria for early termination and that the medical notice does not appear to suggest that, you cannot terminate the lease outright/immediately but that you will begin to market the property for rental and upon securing an acceptable tenant, the lease can be terminated pending a satisfactory property walkthrough indicating no damages.