Maybe pay him a little for things he does for you, help him manage that money and grow it.

Hey Nicholas,Like you mentioned, I'd pay the high interest loans off as quickly as possible. 

most DSCR loans have some pretty stiff pre pay penalties .. 

As an owner-occupier, you can pay more than an investor would, but as I said above, you are going to be a little hamstrung in return rents unless you can get 3 other units and then that is a do you want to live with three tenants that close when you have two kids.Find some local real estate investor meetups in the area and you will meet a lot of house hackers who can tell you their stories.

Keep in mind that with a mortgage you are also building equity, so that's a plus.

It was given to you by the renter to pay the bills on this property. 

With a cash out refi, your rate is fixed, but you’re also paying interest on all of those funds instead of only what you draw.

I mean, Texas is still a great state because of the amount of jobs, the pay that comes with those jobs, and the cost of housing here as opposed to other places around the country.However, that key word "affordable" actually has a definition to it - and that's 30% of the income shouldn't go towards housing. 

But I can't help but think that I could benefit from the occasional discussion about real estate strategies or bounce opportunities off one another.Coach Carson's RPM program details below:Cost: ~$2500/yearBenefits (form Website):Personalized Coaching: Members receive direct support and feedback from Coach Carson and selected coaches, including monthly group coaching sessions, one-on-one "hot seat" calls, and small group coaching within Action Teams.Action Teams: These are accountability groups of 8-10 members that meet weekly over a three-month period to set and achieve goals, fostering perseverance and resilience among participants.Comprehensive Resources: Members have access to a repository of documents, systems, checklists, and more in the community swipe file, including tenant screening criteria, due diligence checklists, and rental analysis spreadsheets.Exclusive Community: RPM offers a private community of like-minded investors who prioritize time and freedom over scaling rapidly, providing a supportive environment for shared learning and growth.The Group Targets:Investors with experience owning 1 to 8+ properties, whether short-term (e.g., Airbnb), mid-term, or long-term rentals.Individuals who are coachable, hardworking, and value time and freedom over aggressive scaling.

Tell them that you are serious about running a quality STR and to have them call you at the first sign of problems.That will give them some peace of mind and have a way to get a hold of you instead of calling the cops.