Purchase price: $179,000 Cash invested: $25,000 Sale price: $500,000 Replaced windows, remodeled kitchen and bathroom, replaced siding What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

I do not know the market very well in Gatlinburg, but from a pure investment perspective (assuming revenue is gross) is abysmal. 

Programs that market themselves as shortcuts often cannot replace the depth of understanding that comes from study, experience, and engagement with the legal framework surrounding real estate.Consider taking time to familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations.

Tiling your tub surrounds to the ceiling not only looks nicer, but also helps waterproof the area better, and will likely never need replaced (versus vinyl surround which last about 3 yrs before tenants start cracking them, in my experiences).

Personally I only use my HELOC on short term projects like flips, new builds and BRRRRs where I know I will be replacing the capital within months.You may be better off waiting a year and save up more cash or liquidate your index funds if the returns on a property will be better.

This appears to be more of investing in pure speculation of an unproven business model. 

In truth, my goal has always been to replace my W2 income, so the focus was on the $ coming in every month, and not so much the number of properties.  

Ones of the biggest was that we had to completely replace all the old electric, luckily we were able to save in other areas of our budget to offset most of the costs but not all of them.

and having to replace appliances. 

I want to replace it with a small 2 bedroom 800 sq ft house.