Right now we're shopping around for loans outside of traditional lenders. 

Without involving a traditional lender, what kind of deal structures should we consider?

That’s not a bad idea however we already have an FHA Loan for our primary home so that wouldn’t be ideal and we are not looking to buy a property using a traditional loan as our goal is to use the Brrrr strategy for our first property.I believe If there is a strong strategy in place with a detailed bid of the rehab I believe that there is a possibility that we might find a hard money lender or possibly a DSCR loan opportunity.

Traditional Long-Term Rental (LTR): If the numbers still work, pivot to a standard 12-month lease.

I have a retirement 457 account with $120k (split amongst Roth and Traditional).

Some areas have a steady need for traveling professionals, military families, or seasonal workers, which can give you different ways to structure your house hack beyond just a traditional long-term tenant.Your VA loan is a huge advantage because it allows you to buy up to four units with zero down.

Lenders will want to know if the property is generating income and if it qualifies for a DSCR loan or traditional financing.

Traditional MLS How did you finance this deal?

Quote from @Gregg Hutton: As a realtor who started as an investor first, I’ve noticed a huge mindset difference between investors and traditional homebuyers.

There are pros and cons depending on your goals.Why an LLC Might Be a Good Move• Helps protect your personal assets in case of a lawsuit• Makes it easier to bring in partners in the future• Keeps your real estate finances separate from personal accountsWhy It Might Not Be the Right Move Just Yet• Most traditional lenders will not give a mortgage to an LLC, so you may have to use commercial or DSCR loans, which usually have higher rates• Some people assume an LLC will save them money on taxes, but rental income is still taxed as pass-through income for most investors• There are extra costs like annual filing fees and bookkeepingA lot of new investors get stuck on this decision, but the reality is, you can always start out in your personal name and transfer properties into an LLC later.One more thing I wish someone told me early on is that property management takes more time than you think.