Hey @Dalton Foote - I highly suggest  using a renovation loan and house hacking a multi-family if that is possible with your current life circumstances.The 203k and homestyle renovation loans are just amazing products and drastically help you reduce your risk, in my opinion, because you are able to leverage the cost of the entire renovation with such a low down payment loan.We work with a lot of clients who use these products in Chicago, and no matter what, in the long term, they gain great equity.If you aren't able to house hack - the process is essentially the same, but just with more money down with hard money or conventional construction loan.

Most rental properties in Milwaukee are old and run down, our product stands out. 

It frees you up to focus on living your life and acquiring more property.

Looking for various tax strategies to reduce the reality that a large RV or boat is a grossly depreciating assetI would not have a loan, so claiming it as a primary or secondary residence and claiming the mortgage deduction is not applicable.I sold my primary residence and I have several rental properties which I use as I'm fixing them up.What I'm pondering is living aboard and working aboard developing a new product, while traveling.  

Originally posted by @Chris Seveney:@Charles RobbinsI would say the ability to get a note and mortgage to acquire a home has helped a lot more people than it has hurt.

You are likely overpaying by $5,000.Broker fee of $3,000 and Processing Fees of $2,000 seem out of place...but then again, i never used a broker to get a loan so I am not sure about that.If the broker was able to get you an interest rate or loan product that you wouldn't be able to find on the open market...its high, but likely fair.if you are getting a loan product that you could have gotten by going to a normal bank...seems high and unnecessary. 

This is part of the cost to acquire.

Here's an example: https://www.schlage.com/en/home/products/JDE265SUTFFFSTR.htm...

I inherited students when acquiring the property.  

Great tools that get updated regularly.I am on the lending side of things and would be happy to hop on a call with you anytime to discuss financial strategies and help answer any questions you may have about nearly any loan product available to help you on your journey, even if they are not products my capital partners offer.We are all here to help you learn and grow.