@Michael Baum I should have clarified in the initial post- Access to capital isn't the issues, but we did struggle when we attempted to do a traditional refinance.

Hey Bigger Pockets community, I'm just starting out in Step 1 (get educated) on what I want to become a successful career in real estate investment.I also currently run an e-commerce business that is currently completely online, but would benefit from having a brick & mortar storefront, and I had an idea that maybe using the investment capital I'm looking to allocate into real estate into a commercial property my business can operate out of until I decide to sell the property in or rent it out to another business.I am obviously very naive when it comes to the complexity of any good real estate deal (especially commercial VS residential), but I'm hoping to spend as much time learning from everyone here who is on their journey as well.My main concern with the idea of buying commercial to operate my business out of it that I might struggle to rent it out afterwards and that there may likely be depreciation in the commercial real estate market over the next 5 years.I understand there is a lot of nuance depending on the local market but I'm guessing commercial is even less of a "safe" bet than finding a solid residential deal to leverage in some way.

It’s worth asking upfront about lease renewal fees, markups on maintenance, and early termination penalties.Finally, a quick personal anecdote: A few years ago, I had a client struggling with a nightmare tenant in Mission Viejo.

Quote from @Christian Bobby McLemore: Quote from @Jonathan Greene: What's the struggle?

However I am struggling to understand and evaluate the risks involved with cash out refinancing 2-5 years down the line.

We’ve been struggling to narrow down an area around Lisbon that makes sense.

For the listings that are struggling, try using the calendar promo feature on Airbnb to help boost visibility.

How should I think about purchasing  our primary residence vs using our money to invest somewhere else when living in the Bay area (San Jose area)?
Both my husband and I have w2 jobs. We have 3 rental properties that...

i think that is part of what we're all struggling with. 

But it’s clear you’re a smart investor who knows the long-term benefits real estate can bring.I keep reminding myself why I stick with real estate: you can make money every month in four different ways:Cash Flow – Passive income to live on.Appreciation – Long-term property value growth.Depreciation – Tax benefits that reduce your taxable income.Tenants Paying Down the Mortgage – Even if you’re paid off now, this is one of the biggest wealth-building tools for leveraged properties.It sounds like your main struggle is the stress of active management—and trust me, you’re not alone.