I feel my money is best spent building a portfolio of cash flowing units.

First off, I really like how you’re thinking beyond just the renovation.. you’re creating a tailored investor strategy that builds excitement around upscale features.

who used this his entire life and build a net worth of over $1 billion by the 1980s starting with absolutely no capital!  

For deal flow, you can either work with a realtor or build relationships with wholesalers.

Regardless of the type of lender you work with, building a trusting relationship is crucial.

Build a local team of real estate agents, property managers, and CPAs to navigate local laws and manage your property.

Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of the screen and look for local investors or meetups in your area.

Additionally, you want to start building your "Core 4": agent, GC, lender, and PM. 

I am wanting to build passive income How did you finance this deal?

these investors were all chasing easy OOS cash flow:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/963/topics/1195280-expe...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1160450-run-i...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1137397-balti...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/52/topics/1010977-12-00...if you're serious on investing in an OOS market i'd pick one, get to know it, go to it in person, and build a team, and then determine what would you need to do to get a good return in that market.