Mortgage Broker/ Bank/ Hard Money Lender – Someone that has experience working with other investors.

However, if you intend to work with a hard money lender or utilize a short-term loan product, you're on the clock for repayment, which can be stressful if things go sideways. 

It's been a very, very bumpy road to be under contract - and past the due dilligence period - on a new build we are purchasing with the intent to use it as a STR (and some personal use).

I think a big catalyst this year across all areas of real estate will be the unemployment rate and personal income growth within the Kansas City metropolitan areas and surrounding cities.

Hard money loan Lessons learned?

Personal guarantees are EXTREMELY common.

If your side could rent for $1,400 then that's what you should pay so you have money to set aside and build a reserve.

If your tenant starts a kitchen fire and the insurance provider finds out it was a rental, they will deny your claim.Landlord insurance still covers the property, but won't cover your personal belongings since you live elsewhere.

And when the company you're suing has shut down and apparently has no money, is it even worth the effort?

This might give a one-time (non-scalable) boost to cash flow, offer multiple value-add options, and allow the house-hacker peace of mind, via the assumed mortgage, in long-term breakeven or positive cash flow in the event that the value-add plans end up not being executed, and/or the person has to move out, and rent by the room or STR become unavailable for some reason at a future date.