I can say from having taught classes on these loans that your contractor will be the biggest key to your success.

So, I feel until I am able to GC my own projects or find trustworthy contractors I would rather focus on long-term rentals.

Our office houses realtors, wholesalers, mortgage companies, contractors... 

Unless you are confident in estimating the renovations needed, I would highly recommend getting a contractor's professional opinion of the rehab costs.

Then buy out my partners on my Costa Rica properties, and just host retreats in Costa Rica, visit my cabins, collect cash flow, and enjoy my wife and kids and travel around visiting friends in my awesome motorhome which I have not purchased yet. great goals.. mine is to buy a nice drift boat and flyfish all over the west and up into BC. trying to figure out do I buy a summer cabin say in Western Montana or Eastern Idado as a home base..

To succeed with the BRRRR strategy, focus on buying properties at a discount, work with trusted contractors, and plan for refinancing timelines.

Every thing you read in these forums about rehab, contractor and landlord mistakes, I've done it.

I just moved from McKinney, we were there about 7 years and enjoyed it

Basically, all the things to do on the US side are best enjoyed in warmer months.

I'm sure that your contractor will be great, but it never hurts to get some unbiased eyes on the work being done.If you need help finding financing, I'd be happy to help you find something, regardless...Happy Investing!