They had to refinance it to basically kind of save the house now that everything is kind of on track she wants to renovate the property.

@Brett Riemensniderwe don't know all the details, but as i said that's a very expensive way to buy property - if you can't afford a property without overleveraging then you might just have to save up more.

If you're comfortable living where you are, equity in your current property or your savings rate would be the two other ways to get your next one which is going to be much slower.

After listening to @Brandon Turner and @davidgreene do the recap it is true that you sharing your story will save BP member millions of dollars.

I would love to add actual dressers but the rooms in most of the apartments are quite small so I am not sure how to resolve without getting closet systems.

Even to them I say, "Well, I wish you found us first and saved 40-50k, however, use what you bought and make millions. 

This way, you can easily revisit details and pick up right where you left off.Avoid cutting corners to save money, as it often costs more in the end.

Setting up direct bookings is a great way to save on fees, but you’re right—it requires extra effort to ensure everything runs smoothly.For vetting guests, start by asking a few questions when they inquire, like the purpose of their stay, how many people will be there, and if they’ve stayed in short-term rentals before.

First house was a house hack, so saved me a big chuck right off the bat. 

Or just keep renting and saving in San Diego where we're familiar with the area and the market (which could take awhile, while we are probably 3ish years away from investing in a Midwest market).