What are you looking to achieve with REI? 

You see this kind of rhetoric all over BiggerPockets, mostly from people who don’t know what success actually looks like.Instead, do this:Figure out what it takes to become successful, and then use what you’ve got to get what it takes to achieve success.So, here’s where you are now.Reverse-engineer success, then use what you have, say $5,000, to get what it takes—a high-converting, credible website, ranked #1 on Google, plus a dedicated marketing budget (e.g., Facebook ads) to close just ONE deal.A high-converting website costs around $100/month, and Facebook ads will run you about $2,500–$3,000/month.

Note I have no illusion that this path will create returns close to equivalent of what I used to be able to achieve via brrrr (I have infinite return on most of my existing portfolio) 2) sophisticated partition via coop/Tic and maybe CA SB9 on my OO.  

@Daniel DeBruin, this is really all market dependent and how much you want to spend versus how much it will impact both the rent you can achieve as well as the quality of tenants it attracts.When it comes to design, it is all a bit personal opinion, but I will say: contiguous flooring always trumps mismatched, hodge podge flooring.  

Open to insights from anyone with experience in the area – looking forward to building valuable connections here and achieving great results together.Thanks in advance to all who can help!

What kind of hold period do you need to achieve the 16% IRR  while you are earning the 7% monthly rate?  

Markets with balanced property prices and strong rental demand will be key.While rising prices and interest rates may impact cash flow, with careful deal analysis and a focus on areas with good appreciation potential, it's achievable.

The good news is that with the right approach, you can also achieve positive cash flow in these markets.Ultimately, success in real estate investing hinges on selecting a growing market, a desirable neighborhood, and building a strong support team.

If talking to more builders does not work out to join you on transaction #1+ and you have enough capital and heavy rehab experience along with a GC / builder doing the project many lenders out there will offer you a lower leverage loan for your first project on your own.  60% finished value and 75% LTC is probably achievable without a builder in your company for the loan. 

I’m  getting tired of seeing small mom and pop operators believing they can operate through title only and achieve the same separation and  liability protections.