You can create equity through renovations as you live in it.Its all about leverage. 

I am talking in general, especially for investors successful enough to park a few hundred k not leveraged at those returns.  

As you grow your portfolio, keep an eye out for lenders who offer low down payment options for investors or those that allow leveraging the equity from your existing properties to fund new ones. 

I have about $100k in capital reserves and can leverage the 2 properties for additional capital, as needed.

Don't over leverage and carry reserves.

Being 100% leveraged isn't a good thing.

In 2023, we sold it for $245,000, achieving a strong return and leveraging the experience to fuel future projects.

I figured it had to be a bit higher (~20%) to leverage some risk.

@Jared Galde I'll be there and I'd be interested in learning how to leverage my SFH portfolio to cater to this niche. 

After spending 25 years as a Software Engineering and Product leader, I’m now exploring the world of real estate investing (REI) and looking forward to learning from all of you.My goal is to leverage my current investments and savings to build a real estate portfolio that will eventually allow me to transition away from my current career.