Value and rents should eventually increase to turn cashflow positive and build your wealth.You're next learning experience will be, now that you are out of day-to-day management, how will you be able to handle the inevitable expense challenges?

My biggest client today is a seller I didn’t even represent during his sale of a 24-unit building—he had another agent.

The city board of adjustment meeting was held today and we presented our case and explained that we made huge investments into the home to remodel and furnish it with the belief that we would be able to operate it as an STR since we had an approved permit.The Board denied my request and did not take any responsibility. 

There are markets today, even with high rates, that are cash flow positive and do have great appreciation. 

Good stuff, it is a much different market today.

I've just watched the "gator method" today.

Not sure if that is still legal or even translates in today's world of everything online but seemed like a good screening tool to me at the time. 

Because I need cashflow proceeds to start being withdrawn in 2 years and not today, I'm looking for how I can build up the empire with a larger portfolio with continued investments beyond the initial $250k now.  

And, FMV on 1/6/25 is not FMV today because now you don't have a lot in an established neighborhood, you have a lot in a disaster area which comes with the challenges I listed above.We built about three dozen "fire lot" homes after our fire--all lots acquired off MLS or from owners that came to us (we didn't market for lots), and not at a price that anyone would call a "discount". 

It's easy to get bogged down by too much software in today's world.