Real estate is seldom a short term play - in fact, other than rank speculation in Vegas style gambling, no investment is going to make you rich, or financially independent in a couple of years. 

The more you learn the better you will be able to decide what style of investing is right for you.Best of luck!!

So, I’m wondering what the best options for lenders are: portfolio or the standard bank-style lending, and why?

HELOCs will give you powerful "check-writing ability" that works well for flipping homes, doing BRRRR style investing, and similar, but can lack the stability of a refinance.In light of the current chraos (crazy chaos . . . the only sufficient description of our social, political, and economic policy interplay right now) I'm personally looking to secure as much good debt as possible, amortized for the longest period, for the lowest interest rate. 

Commit and love the style you're with.

We do not have a right to a life-style.

New craftsman-style doors and hardware.

New craftsman-style doors and hardware.

Doing it Leon Johnson style with "Now I'm going to get real personal now, if I brought that $650k in cash in a brown paper bag, and set it on the table, what would you do with the money?"

It's a 2bed/1bath townhome style unit with private basement with washer/dryer.