You find the house completely trashed with missing appliances and cabinets, tenants were cooking meth, windows broken, etc. 6-8 months of unpaid rent, unpaid utilities, thousands to empty the abandoned property and trash, $50,000 to completely renovate the property and make it rentable again, plus all the time, energy, and stress along the way.I would actually argue this is pretty common and not even the worst-case scenario. 

Would have done 2-3X better in stock market, and with 1000% less grief/stress. read this to start with Why your house is a terrible investment - JLCollinsnhAlso, big picture, residential RE, appreciates only at rate of inflation, on average both in US and abroad."

What if you could secure your next property before selling your current one—without the stress?

I still get emails from turnkey companies and one of them (Martel Turnkey) said "stress free investing".

Way too much stress to do it yourself and there are a lot of hidden costs.

Again, and I cannot stress this enough, I am NOT a tax expert on this so you need to talk to a professional.

Here’s what I recommend:Cash Investments:No Debt, No Stress: With cash, you avoid third-party control and loan vetting, giving you full control of returns.Equity Builders: Partnering with builders often reduces your property entry cost by up to 20% below market value.Consistent 10% Returns: With an all-cash approach, achieving 10% ROI is realistic and efficient.Financing Strategy:If cash isn’t feasible, consider a balanced financing model:40-50% Down Payment: Keep leverage manageable while maximizing returns.Lower Debt Exposure: A conservative loan-to-value ratio (LTV) reduces risks and keeps returns stable.Work with a Builder: Collaboration with builders can lower acquisition costs and increase your ROI.Key Takeaways:If possible, prioritize cash for simplicity, control, and consistent returns.Financing can work well with a disciplined approach to debt and a strong underwriting process.Partnering with builders offers opportunities to reduce costs and enhance your portfolio’s profitability. 

Renting and eating the loss is a gamble on future rent increases, but the market and high costs might not make it worth the stress.

Until then, don't stress.

I recommend working with a professional to help alleviate that stress and get the grant pushed through.