Using your first property as collateral could help reduce the cash you need upfront, but it’s essential to weigh the risks and it's not really recommended specially if this will be your first.I recommend focusing on building reserves or seeking partnerships to fund flips.

Lots of new supply now with reduced demand.

Personally I’d stick with SFR or at 4 units or less for preferred financing and to reduce risk of the exchange failing.

Because this is the business we've built together, we enjoy working together, we each have roles that reduce the work load on the group and personally I like that the risk is spread out.

If you use Podio as it's designed to be used, it will streamline every thing you do--from managing leads, managing projects, reducing your internal email count, to making your internal communications more efficient because conversations (which otherwise might happen in email) happen "in context" -- of the client record in your CRM, the project, or whatever it is that you are discussing.  

However, these costs can often be added to your property's basis, which helps reduce capital gains tax when you sell the home.Once the property is officially a short-term rental, subsequent repairs and maintenance would likely qualify as deductible expenses. 

Our business plan actually includes rehabbing distressed properties and conducting off-market transactions with owners currently occupying distressed properties using equity to reduce the out of pocket costs for the seller/buyer and to simplify the process.

Always have an exit strategy in case refinancing takes longer than expected, such as optimizing rents or reducing expenses.

This has significantly reduced the cash flow across both portfolios.

For reference I own exactly one handful (5) SFH  rentals in my hometown, all have been purchased in the last 4 years.1) buying at a discount is MY preferred way to reduce risk.