My head is spinning and my brain is mad.

Many investors use hard money even if they have their own funds to do the deal, as it tends to light a fire under you to get the project completed when you know the interest meter is spinning every day that the project is not completed. 

That would have to be your call after finding out more information.Right now it might be a good idea to talk to a few local realtors who have been in the business for a while and see what they have to say is going on in your market right now (remembering they will make a profit only if you buy).Every area is different, and ever investor has different goals.Also talk to some local investors who have been at it in the area for a while and get their spin on what's going on in the area.Before Covid meetup.com was a good source of local investor meetings, now (???).

If it isn't causing water to back up into the property, just have it rodded one a year and move on.  

The repair guy felt it was the transmission (burning rubber smell, no spinning). 

@Rod FisherThat's a great attitude I did the same thing when I was first starting just go see if I can learn something and keep my credit cards and my other pocketWalking to bigger pockets and feel free to colleague meIn that reference was Hogan's Heroe's,  right?

I feel like I've been spinning my tires trying to lock down my next rental property for some passive income now that I am trying to make a move into real investing full time or at least having some additional passive income streams.

There are so many different ways to approach real estate investing its easy to spin your wheels and gain no traction.

@Tenzin Samphel, Rod Khleif has a virtual bootcamp coming up.

I wanted to build hot rods, not work out the schematics of a nut or bolt.