Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.

We've also advised this method to our investor clients that borrow from us.

Focus on key areas first (like floors, walls, kitchen, or bathroom), which may help you handle the costs more gradually, even if it means moving in furniture or updating fixtures down the line.Also, since the tenant left it in rough shape, be sure to document all the damage (photos, receipts) in case you decide to pursue reimbursement through their security deposit or in court.

I've begun cold calling and looking to alternate methods of finding deals, but if anyone has any advice for overcoming this I'd love to connect.

Many experienced mentors in this group can help guide you in the right direction.I highly recommend saving as much as possible and setting aside a hedge fund for financial security.

Sure, I could look for a higher paying job, but I was wondering if anyone has any creative short-term methods to improve my ratio.

When I started, I  submitted great deals to a corporate cash buyer,  they went behind my back and secure the deals with the sellers, after the  contracts expired.

There are many who will argue my methods and that's fine, it's worked very well for me and has been extremely rewarding in ways that cannot be compensated monetarily. 

Creative financing options like seller financing or assuming a low-interest FHA loan can also help you secure better terms.

Maybe if I was younger it would make more sense, but staying with the method I've used over the last 10 years will only become more refined and efficient.