Alternative route I chose, I will leverage my duplex (purchased 4 years ago) equity through house hacking to have skin in the game on next flip.

Focus on what the rents will look like post-renovation with 4 units instead of 2, and have a clear game plan for refinancing to pull your capital back out. 

Just keep in mind that entertainment expenses—like taking clients out for a show or a game—aren’t deductible anymore.And, yes, you can deduct 100% of your education expenses if you’re already a real estate investor.

Try again in 2026.It's a long game.

But that’s the game we play. 

If you are looking to be an investor then I would suggest you don't be an agent that is a poor mans game and it will make it way more difficult to find deals. 

It's part of the game. 

I didn’t have much money and needed to find a way to get in the game. 10 years later, I’ve got 29 SFR that profit 19k/month (not including things breaking or vacancies).

They used that period of unemployment to skip paying student loans and then try to get some kind of program/hardship deferral or something aka "gaming the system".

@Stuart UdisAll great comments, seems like putting skin in the game will be a reassuring factor for any potential investors.