Any advice to guide me on this thrilling decision-making ride?

Also, doesn't matter if you are new or experienced, we all get taken for a ride by a contractor. 

If you prepay 15% you’ll probably get a 5% return.What we didn’t talk about was ability to acquire new debt, cash out refinance costs, cash flow implications, tax benefits, liquidity or risk management which is another post.My intention on my property is to prepay about 4% to move the cash out refinance for another property up by a year and let additional investment money ride elsewhere.

Fed raises rates typically results in increased mortgage rates.I think we are in for a bumpy ride.

RDU is a great market for appreciation, my focus is to get close to breakeven, make it sustainable, and ride that wave, eventually cashflow with future refi(s) and or by using value add strategies.

I don't think it will be like 2021, but there will still be more competition.Versus, buying now, rates drop, competition increases and prices go up, and you get to ride it out.

It will morph over time.

I recommend starting with You Can't Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike at a Seminar.

It has been a ride to say the least!

Hi Bree,Best wishes as you ride the Tax Deed Trail!