At least that way, in the event you never get your entire principal back (targeted within 5 years, although they'll make a best efforts attempt to get you out sooner penalty-free after 12 months (slight penalties months 1-6 and 6-12)), they still got to collect their management fee along the way.  

How important is it for me to be able to easily visit my target market? 

If you’re targeting a refinance for next year, it could be advantageous to wait and monitor the market.Overall, if you're not in a rush for another project and don't need immediate access to more capital, it might make sense to hold off on the HELOC and refinance together in 2025.

But you’d have to target the <5% that are privately managed by newbies.

Live in the hipster Roosevelt district and can target struggling artist types, Tempe college students etc? 

Since you and your wife have renovation skills, targeting properties that need minor improvements can maximize your return on investment while minimizing the time and cost associated with major renovations.

Hi Scott, consider USFR for zero risk cash, earns 5.4% holding 8 week Floating rate note US treasuriesor for mild risk cash, consider BKN - BlackRock's Muni fund, earns 5.6% tax free, which for you would be >9% tax-equivalent yield, and if rates fall, the BKN etf will rise considerably, which though will be capital gains taxable :(, It holds intermediate term Municipals that are all GO, general obligation, so they can always tax us dumb schmuck citizens to pay off the notes instead of defaulting, so low risk but not zero risk for cash. ie (Orange county '90s)Inflation has already resolved, the 3 month trailing core PCE is at 1.5%, well below FEDs 2% target, so they will likely start cutting soon as the 12 month trail falls in line, that's why Powell changed his verbiage so much last Wednesday, and FOMC minutes speak of 150 bp cuts before the end of December as their expectation per their Dot Plots, the only question remaining is consumer spending,(>60% US economy), if falling like McDonalds/Starbucks/Uber saying then unemployment will accelerate and then possible recession, then 10yr yield falls even more, and bonds values would rise like Mike just said above.

I wanted a cohesive, fairly upscale look, so bought new from a variety of places including a local furniture store, Amazon, Wayfair, Target online, Home Depot online, Pottery Barn, Article, and others.

We found this lead through SMS marketing targeting tired landlords.

I'm looking for a bit more dedicated time to analyze for example, my top 3 properties so that's why I'm thinking of paying for his time, since it'll be a bit more targeted and in depth than just an overview of the market.