You can spend no time and risk little and get an easy 8% return (pick a turn key and go).  

pick your favorite. 

Last year my largest holding FDUS, paid 13.6% dividend and stock also went up 8-9 %, as long as 10 yr flat to rising they make money on their large net interest margin spreads.if you ok with moderate risk, pick good REITS, as a group VNQ they beat sp500 last 20 and 50 yrs by about 1.5-2.0%, and they beat private real estate investors by 2-4% in academic studies as well, that's an average, that doesn't mean REITS outperform the excellent investors here at BP :)Or take out a margin loan and YOLO Bitcoin, no don't do that!

While I don't believe you should pick a lender based solely on interest rate, that is an important factor in evaluating cash flow when you're talking about house hacking. 

If I had to pick without knowing anything, I'd go with the curtain rod.

Before I decide to STR a property, I first pick the city in which I want to STR the property.

You pick the title company to close the transaction3.

Lots of bad products (like Wachovia's Pick-a-Pay loans) came back to haunt the banks.

We're already starting see more of the sideline private equity entering the market again which will help rates.To pick the right market, you need clarity on your strategy. 

If permits are required for the scope of work but they are not obtained  and there is ultimately a claim filed the insurance carrier may not pick up coverage.5.