Lucy: your story shows that setting up a loan is more than just interest rate and other terms.

Financing options do exist: hard money loans, renovation loans, and some traditional mortgages can be used on distressed properties if criteria are met.

If you are looking to buy in PA, its possible you can qualify for PHA KFIT program that gives you a 5% closing cost forgivable loan.

Once you’ve built capital, transition to small multifamily units using DSCR loans for steady cash flow.If you need help analyzing deals or securing funding, let me know.

I would get a bridge loan to acquire the property if it needs to be rehabbed and/or closed quickly.

@Hank Bank BRRRR is probably want you want to do.Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refi, Repeat.Before you go all in and either find out you don't like being a landlord or you make costly mistakes, start with just the next one.You'll have some challenges with tapping the equity in the townhouse:1) What loan amount can you qualify with your credit & income?

You can open a Self-Directed IRA and use the IRA funds to buy a house using a Non-recourse loan. 

Quote from @Beth Johnson: We pass all loan servicing charges through to the borrower including set-up fee, monthly fees, and any servicing charges such as payoff demand generation, and loan close out fees. 

Any referrals or recommendations for good and qualified brokers, sellers, property management companies, loan brokers, insurance brokers, mortgage brokers, contractors, etc.

I specialize in small multifamily properties and house hacking working alongside BiggerPockets podcast guest Andrew Freed to help investors find high-performing deals in Central MA.My Background:  - Started in late 2019 I utilized an FHA loan to get my first 3 family property in Fitchburg, spent about a year fixing it up and soon after I refinanced.