I KNOW I am not up to Accredited.It seems to me to be "backwards" thinking that there is LESS risk to a 'novice' in a FUND since the risk is spread out over many Notes and professionally managed, whereas an Individual Note seems like it would carry WAY more risk, especially picking the 'right one' for your investing goals, budget, etc...? 

It's important to take the time to evaluate the goals and seek professional advice to ensure the right fit.

Quote from @Ashley Mierez: Going into the new year my goal is make sure Im hitting all the points of a good deal so my investors wont have to think twice when I send something to them.

Consider what your long-term goals are, is this your only rental or do you want to grow your portfolio?

There are two types of return from a rental propertyCash Flow & Appreciation.I normally also aim for a minimum of 8% return between Cash-Flow and Appreciation.Appreication, nationally, is around 2% to 3% annually.Therefore, your goal is to get the cash-flow to be about 5% to 6%.The issue is interest rates being very high, you would therefore, need to buy at a pricepoint where the numbers still make sense.You can always put down more of a downpayment to cash flow, but that will impact your cash on cash return calculations.Best of luck!

Our end goal is to be back in Redding in the next five years. 

Bank financing is very tough for anyone starting out so HML is generally ( unless you use your own cash or cash in your network) the only funding there is.. the goal has to be though moving towards bank financing so you get the best deal possible.. right now I am at 1/2 point and 7% and my bank pays for my appraisals.

I like the idea of using a HELOC over a personal loan and going with option 2, but it depends on what your goals are.

Look for shops that test and offer guarantees.For valued tenants or premium units: New appliances might be worth the investment for their reliability and long-term durability.Ultimately, your decision depends on your goals.

I just meant to say that it's our next goal to build that up, having just gone on a spending spree on fixing up both properties in a short period of time.