Since you will be renting it out you should get a conventional loan.

The bank set me in at 7.1% interest (construction loan short term) This will be a side hustle for me.

Hey Makani, you should check out DSCR loans, which are primarily for investment properties and focus on the property’s income potential rather than your personal income.

If you are going to be an owner-occupant, want a low down payment, and are planning to do a renovation, the FHA 203k and Fannie May Homestyle loans are your best optionsHow do you know the property is currently upside down on the mortgage? 

I'm learning more about loans and such as I used the VA.

Quote from @Jarrod Ochsenbein: I purchased an existing Padsplit with a DSCR loan. 

I Joined Jeromes Buying land and building homes program back in 2019Heres my opinion on my experience....First and foremost He offers two different programs. a 6 month program and a 12 month program.BOTH PROGRAMS ARE EXACTLY IDENTICAL THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS:You can choose to have the weekly mentoring by Jerome once a week for 6 months or 12 months on a zoom call and you can have access to a private networking group of real estate professionals whether that be (realtors, contractors, brokers, Private/Hard money lenders, loaning institutions, Surveyors, Engineers, Zoning Board members in different municipalities, pretty much anyone you would need to get a project completed) for either 6 months or 12 months.6 month program will run you $5,997 if you decide to pay all at onceor you can make a $2,300 payment every 2 months totaling $6,90012 month program will run you $9,997 if you decide to pay all at onceor you can make a $3,000 payment every 3 months totaling $12,000I decided to join the one year program and chose the payment option as i figured within 6-8 months i would have my 1st project completed therefor my last two payments would essentially be covered by the return on investment from that project.PROS:The group is really a family oriented space where you meet a vast variety of people from all types of background throughout the country and other countries that are doing business just like you.

I financed the deal with a conventional loan and bought down the rate from 7.75 to 6.25.

@Jordyn Ohs pay off/down your Heloc aggressively and/or look into DSCR loans for future acquisitions.

Buy and holds is the key to true wealth with all the benefits of depreciation, appreciation, loan pay down by your tenants, leveraging the equity, cash-flow etc etc, but it often times isn't the active income that pays the bills until you build up a portfolio and even then there's the tenant management or managing your property managers.That's why I'm involved in all 3.