Also, there’s much to delve into on of those scenarios, like what type of cashflow or investment do you want, etc. residential, multi-res, small multi-res, commercial, industrial, etc.There seems to be fewer deals around these days and this typically benefits the more experienced and skilled investors but there are always multiple investors that get “tripped-up” in these markets due to them relying on recent “fortunate” market circumstances only to realize the markets cycle and they weren’t prepared or didn’t underwrite properly to account for unforeseen potential.There are more considerations, but this is a start.

It's like asking someone what you should look for in a wife.You need to focus on what your goals are first, then take a personal inventory of your own knowledge, skills, interests, finances, available time, etc. 

kept using people who don't do real estate to do my taxes, and also they had horrible communication skills, I don't trust people who only see u as money.

You have acquired skills that are worth 500k, so maybe you can translate that into an adjacent career path and leverage your existing skills?

You have a skillset that could be extremely useful for quick fixes and landlord issues and from there you can bridge relationships and partnerships to enhance your knowledge of real estate investing and couple your skills.

The price-to-rent ratios are generally unfavorable, and a shortage of skilled tradespeople and reliable property management can hinder the success of buy-and-hold rental investments.

One golden rule I follow,if it takes a long time to fix/replace when it breaks, don't buy a cheap one.Imagine, this thing breaks in the middle of your peak season and the people who can come out to rebuild are 2 weeks out....It takes at least a day or two to build something like this even if you are super skilled.

Target neighborhoods like Brewerytown, Kensington, and Point Breeze, where demand and ARV potential are currently strong.Your skills in renovations will give you a significant edge in controlling costs and boosting returns.

Negotiating is a skill that needs to be practiced and consistently role played to get right.

Keep in mind, though, that each lender has their own criteria for how much future potential they’ll factor in, so it might come down to some skillful negotiation and presenting detailed projections that don’t feel like puffery.Just be careful not to come off as overly speculative…lenders tendd to shy away from what sounds too good to be true.Anyway, I’m curious.. have you spotted any other investors in Gainesville facing a similar refinance puzzle and what kind of terms were they able to secure?