My original plan was to rent out the space to Section 8 tenants, but from my experience so far, dealing with Baltimore City housing and inspections can be a serious pill.

Single-Family Home with a Basement:Pros:Familiar single-family living with potential rental income.Can be a good starter home, quieter living if the basement is well-soundproofed.Potentially lower initial investment compared to a duplex (depending on renovations).Cons:Finding tenants might take longer, especially if the basement isn't a fully formed apartment.You'll be responsible for all maintenance and repairs for both units.Less separation between your living space and the rental unit.Multifamily Duplex:Pros:Clear separation between your living space and the rental unit.Potentially higher rental income with a full, separate unit.Faster tenant search as it's a more traditional rental format.Cons:Might be slightly more expensive upfront than a single-family home with a converted basement.Potential for noise complaints if the duplex isn't well-built.Dealing with potentially two sets of tenants (though vacancy rates are typically lower with duplexes).So, which one to buy first?

Odds of finding a 10% down lender in any market (let alone the one we are in) are slim. 15% is the absolute max that we see out there in the DSCR space now.

I might take another look after I free up some brain space.. 

The right tenant will build out the space with AC and plumbing.

I want to hear from you about your experiences, challenges, and success stories when it comes to funding your fix and flip projects.Join me to:Share your insights on the best strategies for securing funding.Learn from fellow investors about their approaches to financing flips.Discuss common pitfalls to avoid when seeking funding.Connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about real estate investing.PLEASE NO SELF- PROMOTIONS here – just an authentic space for investors to come together, learn from each other, and grow their networks.So, whether you're a hard money lender, a seasoned flipper, or someone just starting out, your voice matters in this discussion! 

But with COVID and higher rates I know a lot of banks/credit unions have cut back on some of their products, so I guess PenFed did too.If you are based in FL you can try Space Coast Credit Union.

I would like to maximize the ARV by adding 500 square foot of living space in the basement.

I am mid-journey investor in real estate and also work in the Cybersecurity space living in Raleigh, NC.

I assume you can't 'fix it' because of the new tread length making the whole structure too long for the space?