"Most" water damage claims can be fixed and closed within a few weeks or months, where a fire claim "may" take 6 months to 1 year to close out due to more extensive construction, delays in materials or labor, weather/seasonal delays, etc. 

Are you looking to rent it our annually or seasonally? 

As I got older I realized I am not the best at everything and can find people to do things a lot better than me, and while it is an expense, in the long run it saves me time and money.

My market is seasonal and I was begging for enough revenue just to cover my mortgage so I wouldn't have to pay my own rent AND a mortgage. 

Some lenders can refinance a hard money loan after 3 months of seasoning / waiting and use the new appraised value if the borrower is looking to pull cash out for a new project. 

Conventional loan, excellent credit and reserves, nothing owed on the property and the property is seasoned.

I learned that April and May are seasonally slow for rentals, since most people seem to move in the summer, and also that the market here in Wesley Chapel, FL is a bit saturated with excess inventory from all the new construction activities in the area.Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

If you want to check out market data, head to websites like Realtor.com, Zillow, and Redfin, and partner up with seasoned agents who focus on multi-family properties.

As a lender using cards is fine just make sure you have the funds seasoned (2+ billing cycles) in your account prior to engaging into a loan transaction because funds sourced from an unsecured source cannot be used as down payment or closing costs.

inspections can be uber frustrating in older homes..I know when we build new construction buyers have inspections and there is always a laundry list.its their job.you can refuse and move on.. its not common by the time the folks go into contract and spend money on inpsections and apprsials and such they usually will move forward if you address major issues.you can always put in your counter offer you will only address major issues any thing that is only for the benefit of long term ware and tear your not dealing with.. kind of set expectations up front.