You want to have your financial house in order so you know what you CAN afford and what you SHOULD spend.

We have 8 business entities availing of their services, and as "advisors", they should make business life easier -- not add more work on your plate --- but instead, my team and I have been checking for mistakes, or following up on action items, missed deadlines, and paying penalties to the IRS and Secretaries of State due to their negligence.

Next up is a huge financial hit: closing costs.

It seems like you've taken a lot of the steps to educate yourself and you're ready to take action.

Exactly this and why you should not do cash for keys to reward poor tenant actions.  

Be patient, take action when you're ready, and don't let fear hold you back—start small, learn as you go, and build momentum over time.Good luck!

Improve your credit and financials so lenders are willing to take a chance on you.

There is an much art as science in financial projections and numbers change with the market.  

They’re ideal for those building portfolios, as they don’t require extensive personal financial documentation.A key tip is to ensure the property’s cash flow comfortably exceeds the lender’s DSCR requirement (typically 1.25x or higher).

How would you approach this situation to keep scaling while staying financially stable?