Florida for example, many landlords I speak to don't understand Security Deposits. 

The bank also wanted the church to maintain “compensating balances” in their checking account.We had an existing $650,000 mortgage secured by the property, which had been paid down to $615,000.  

Furthermore, we have a less than 3% interest rate on our home, and we love were we live.My family and I are finally getting to a position in life where we are financially secure.

Can anyone offer tried and true tips for securing a good contracting team for a small-scale investor?

I was able to secure the deal with him for $105,000 then, a few days later I used  Sean Terry’s real estate retail buyer program script he intermittently gave away during his explanation video.  

Despite these attractive features, I've encountered challenges in securing qualified renters, as the property has been on the market for the past 30 days.

To me, the most important contact is your contractor in the BRRRR process, so I would start by securing a good 1-2 contractors.

Never let a tenant move in without a security deposit paid in full. 

You can probably secure the hard money with less than a 25% down payment, and then if things go right - 0 out of pocket on the refinance, but you will still need at least some "skin in the game" regarding a little equity/down payment to start.Sharing this article published here on BP last year on this topic - hope it can help too!

Less Competition - High-interest rates and market uncertainty may deter some flippers, reducing competition for distressed propertiesMarket Demand - In some areas, there remains strong demand for renovated, move-in-ready homes.Price Negotiation - Sellers of distressed properties may be more willing to negotiate in a high-interest rate environment.Cons:High Carrying Costs - High-interest rates increase the cost of borrowing, which raises your holding costs (interest payments, taxes, insurance, utilities).Market Volatility - Real estate markets can be unpredictable, and high-interest rates may lead to slower home sales and declining prices in some areas.Renovation Risks - Unexpected renovation costs and delays are common risks in any market, and high-interest rates exacerbate the financial impact of these issues.Financing Challenges - Securing financing for both the purchase and renovation can be more difficult and expensive in a high-interest rate environment.Mitigation Strategies:Thorough Market ResearchAccurate BudgetingEfficient Project ManagementFlexible FinancingExit StrategyFixing and flipping properties in today's market can still be profitable if approached with caution and thorough preparation.