Hello, I'm looking for any perspective as I have no real estate experience.

While I agree the rent by the room strategy can be great if you know how to manage it well, from a lending perspective, a lot of 30 year DSCR note buyers won't allow properties with individual room leases, so it could make refinancing more challenging. 

Ben,First from a Bankers point of view you are over extended from an LOC perspective and its hurting your DTI and future approvals. 

If local deals aren’t working, try out-of-state markets or connect with local investors for fresh ideas.

If it's tight or you're uncomfortable with the tenant you have in there from a confidence perspective, especially if this is a first deal, maybe meet in the middle and get a lender at 75% or 77% (doesn't HAVE to be at 5% increments) that wont make you season, and leave a bit more money in the deal, but sleep better.Overall, if I cash flow well, have/keep reserves, and am comfortable I fixed everything in the house, I like to max out the LTV on refi.

Here’s some perspective:1% Rule: Meeting the 1% rule is a good sign, especially with many markets struggling to hit this benchmark.Cash-on-Cash (COC) Return: 8.73% is decent, especially with today’s higher interest rates.

Fortunately, our parcel only has 1 neighbor, so less work from a quantity perspective on avoid dissent.

You're absolutely right—agents will always say their area is the best, which is why I appreciate hearing different perspectives and the reasoning behind them.I came up with these markets based on research into affordability and population growth trends.

By the way, from what I read in the Wall Street Journal, there’s a growing number of niche investors cropping up who love grabbing assignments that fly under the mainstream radar, especially if you’re bringing something fresh to the table like a distressed duplex they can reposition, or a small portfolio of row homes they can turn into long-term rentals.

I'm interested in hearing different perspectives.