Focus on what the rents will look like post-renovation with 4 units instead of 2, and have a clear game plan for refinancing to pull your capital back out. 

That's why I'm asking for more opinions from people who have been in the game longer. 

They used that period of unemployment to skip paying student loans and then try to get some kind of program/hardship deferral or something aka "gaming the system".

I have been BRRRR-ing in Milwaukee since 2009 and while it got progressively harder to find deals the game really changed after 2020.

Try again in 2026.It's a long game.

But that’s the game we play. 

How about a cigarette machine?

I love the concept especially given the need in your market for storing things like snow machines, boats, rvs etc, but also for repair or general "fab shops".As long as you are seeing the demand in your specific market for these spaces, and perhaps its worth getting some leases signed up prior to breaking ground but thats a personal preference thing, I think the numbers look promising if the use case is there.

My biggest advice for people would be as follows.Know why your in the real estate game, and why a specific niche.

If you are looking to be an investor then I would suggest you don't be an agent that is a poor mans game and it will make it way more difficult to find deals.