Any unused funds from the engagement fee are typically credited to the borrower at loan closing, reducing your total cash to close.

Consider starting with a few lower-cost flips with a smaller loan-to-value ratio to reduce financial strain.Market Research: Sacramento can be volatile, so I’d recommend keeping a pulse on local trends—particularly in the neighborhoods that have potential for growth but haven’t quite hit their peak yet.

Did you have taxable income that could’ve been reduced utilizing tax strategies?

Many investors start with a multifamily property, like a duplex, as living in one unit and renting out the other can offset your mortgage and reduce vacancy concerns.Take your time running the numbers and researching neighborhoods—you're off to a great start!

Limiting leverage, for any loan ever = reducing lender exposure/risk.

@Mordechai ChaimovitzGreat points made above along with what @Daniel C. said referencing @Tom Shallcross's post on another thread.The context and variables for each individual investor will vary but many people are comfortable with getting a 2-4 unit that will reduce their out of pocket expense compared to their previous rent with the intent to do rehab and raise rents over time.

More possible is reducing immigration to a net zero or negative number over time, which would have essentially the same effect as mass deportation but over a longer, controlled timeline.

Hi, pre foreclosure in all of its permutations, before the bank sends Notice of Default (NOD) or efter which is state even county dependant but often starts a 4 week clock till the trustee auction are the 2nd most difficult deal scenario and IMHO only experienced investors should bother, the 1st most difficult deal scenario are bidding at the court house steps on lord only knows what is being auctioned off sometimes even 2nd mortgages, you need to do so much home work to attempt to reduce your risk at the court house steps...Pre foreclosure no one talks about these issues, always about the nice sounding stuff like "motivated seller" get a good deal etc etc both are usually not the case.- 95% of folks in pre or post NOD want to stay in their house, keep their house inspite of them 100% will loose the house at the auction. 

Quote from @Aaron Zimmerman: I would look for other ways to legally reduce income such as cost segregation studies.

Here’s a streamlined perspective:Your current approach, putting more down upfront, minimizes risk, increases cash flow faster, and allows you to build equity while reducing overall interest.