@Tove Fox - Residential Real Estate InvestingPros:Lower Entry Costs: Easier to get started with less capital required.High Demand: People always need homes, making demand relatively stable.Easier Financing: Mortgages are generally easier to secure with favorable terms.Simplicity: Easier to understand and manage, especially for beginners.Flexibility: You can use it as a personal residence or rent it out.Cons:Tenant Turnover: More frequent turnover leads to vacancy and more management.Lower Cash Flow: Income potential can be modest compared to commercial properties.Emotional Buyers: Residential prices can be influenced by emotions, leading to price volatility.Maintenance Burden: Landlords often deal with repairs and maintenance, which can be time-consuming.Commercial Real Estate InvestingPros:Higher Income Potential: Stronger cash flow and higher returns are common.Long-Term Leases: Tenants often sign longer leases (3-10 years), reducing vacancy risk.Professional Tenants: Business tenants tend to take better care of the property.Valuation Based on Income: Prices are based on the income the property generates, not market emotions.Shared Costs: Tenants often cover property expenses like taxes, insurance, and maintenance (via triple-net leases).Cons:High Entry Costs: Requires more capital or partnerships to get started.Complex Management: More expertise is needed; you may need a professional property manager.Economic Sensitivity: Commercial properties are more sensitive to economic conditions.Challenging Financing: Securing financing can be harder, with stricter terms and higher interest rates.Zoning and Legalities: More complex regulations compared to residential properties.Key Differences:Risk: Residential tends to be lower risk, while commercial offers higher rewards but with greater risk.Management: Residential is easier for DIY investors, while commercial properties usually require a team.Scalability: Commercial properties are easier to scale, offering more potential for significant cash flow increases.

Not every real estate agent is an investor, and not every agent focuses on 1-4 unit properties, let alone has the ability to purchase them.

Purchase price: $260,000 Cash invested: $120,000 Sale price: $535,000 Complete gut, new front and rear walls, all new electric, HVAC, plumbing, roof, deck, windows, interior What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

Purchase price: $5,000,000 Cash invested: $1,450,000 Complete combination and gut of two lofts side by side resulting in a 4,000 square foot home.

We are currently living just south of Boston and are looking to purchase a 2-4 unit property in which we would live in one of the units.

But with that purchase, I bought it with $50k equity in the deal.

Mortgage lenders will qualify you for a higher purchase amount for multis than they would on a single, because they will count the rent you will be making on the other units as additional qualifying income for your loan application.

We were in a financial position where we could keep our existing home, upgrade, and purchase another home.

However, a multifamily purchase could work quite nicely. 

Encore, you would need a membership, if you purchase in the new phase (Spectrum ) they automatically come with the amenities (membership) included to your guests, but the HOA and management have other restrictions and all units come furnished with the same packages, so you can't make changes to have it stand out, which is what is really needed hear in Orlando since there is so much competition.