I also plan on starting to have my realtor send me MLS properties that popup in the Indianapolis area and start looking through numbers and pricing to see what I can afford and be beneficial.

Focus on neighborhoods near employers or schools, and explore slightly outside Austin for more affordable options. 

I am curious if anyone has had any success using this product.  

I sent him a list of my questions ahead of time which really seemed productive to me.

Are you basing this solely on what you can afford, or what you intend to make on it, or your target sale price? 

The draw is actually this coming Fri for 2026The market for STR seems saturated in popular/touristic regions, however, if you have a unique property and offer affordable pricing, you may get descent occupancy. 

I talked to my lender contact and, as Kerry mentioned above, it's pretty uncommon that a traditional lender would offer a HELOC product on an investment property (non-primary home). 

Looking for in country contacts banks, agents, contractors, recommended areas, etc to prep for a productive visit.  

No sure about that as buyers want to see the finished product and showing them before pictures will often not be well received.That's funny, my wife said the exact same thing about showing them the before pictures. 

In markets where affordability and cash flow are tough, focusing on stable, long-term rental markets with strong resident demand can make all the difference.It’s completely understandable to feel cautious after missing opportunities in the past, but real estate has always been about timing and strategy.