My plan for this year is improve my credit, get my real estate license (to increase my income on top of my W-2), possibly career transition into the property management space (to learn more), and save as much as possible and learn as much as I can.I’d love to house hack close to home but my area is so expensive it seems like it’d be close to impossible. 

Also you will greatly improve cash flows and now you will have 2 CA properties from one. makes as much sense as splitting a unibrow into 2 eyebrows lol3.

Because of the relationship I have with the contractors I use, there is no material mark up when they source the material.Basically there is not an issue.The CSLB law on prohibition of T&M residential home improvement contracts has been around a long time.

Let’s break it down and explore how you might approach this idea, the challenges you could face, and ways to structure a deal that could work for both you and the landlord.Why the Landlord Might Be Open to SellingThey’ve moved out of state for health reasons and don’t have family nearby anymore, which might reduce their emotional attachment to the property.The idea of simplifying their life and pursuing something like sailing around the world suggests they could be open to letting go of the property if it helps them achieve their goals.With significant equity or potentially owning the property outright, selling could provide them with a substantial cash windfall to fund their future plans.However, their belongings on the property could signal hesitation to let go or simply a logistical barrier they haven’t addressed yet.

Even better, I might be able to snag it well under market value since it's an estate sale that's been sitting on the market for nearly 200 days.Here’s the challenge: while I could afford to purchase the property under market value, I’d be stretching my budget thin to cover the mortgage during the period I’d be remodeling the basement to make it rentable.

@Shaun OrtizEvaluating distressed properties remotely can be a little challenging but it's doable with the right tools.

They aren't going to magically improve and start abiding by the lease terms but I think there is definitely a possibility that the situation gets worse.I think that's a good point.

I’m based in Portland, Oregon, where residential investing seems challenging due to landlord-unfriendly policies and negative cash flow on higher-quality properties.

What I'm aiming for are turnkey rentals and trying to max out the amount of conventional, lower interest loans. again, the DTI income ratio will be IMPROVED if the property shows cash flow.

It's a great way to showcase the improvements made and helps appraisers not miss stuff.