Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

That kind of shoot-from-the-hip approach can be fun for a minute, but it usually ends up like my old buddy Rick’s first deal.. he bought a distressed fourplex in Tucson years back without a real plan, and while he eventually turned it into a solid monthly cash flow, he spent the first six months sleeping with one eye on the tenant ledger, praying the HVAC wouldn’t bail on him after a hot desert day.

Implementing water-saving initiatives is a smart way to reduce utility costs.

Save your time/money move on.

Essentially ended up screwed out of a substantial chunk of retirement savings and left to find my own lender elsewhere to close the deal.

The reality is stocks are NOT "investing", there savings accounts with super charged interest earning potential, that comes with the risk of going to 0.  

However, full site visits, though more expensive, maximize tax savings by capturing every depreciable asset and offer better audit protection.While online studies may be suitable for simpler properties, full site visits are ideal for complex or high-value properties.

And right now the bigger cabins are not a good cash flow play but might be a great equity play when you look back in two to three years.  

This is a great way to scale as you build your savings post-college. 

By accelerating your depreciation schedules, you reduce your taxable income which in turn increases your operating cash flow.