My husband was able to consolidate and re-finance the debt after we executed the deal but this was only possible because we bought a VERY modest property of 70k as a learning tool to really see what buying a home in CR would be like. 

HELOC: The Best Tool for Smart InvestorsWhy It Works:Pay interest only when you use it.Got extra cash?

I'm in very similar position, looking to start my RE investing journey around Boston area and facing struggle to cash out on my stock portfolio to try to get a MF, that using BP analysis tools, will be barely break even...even in slightly farther surrounding areas. wishing us both luck though! 

Use tools like AirDNA or Mashvisor to provide market data on projected rental income and occupancy rates, and make sure your lender works with appraisers familiar with short-term rentals.

We can use the original part of the house for rental as well, which is valuable to help use understand the STR rental market better, ie what income we actually get as all we have current is the airbnb site itself and airdna (an airbnb analytics site).In short I think the downside is limited, and this deal with give valuable experience while testing my beliefs that it will make me some money!

My view is the insurance is not only valuable if it is used.  

Tools like BiggerPockets Calculators and rent estimation tools are incredibly helpful.

LLC's are still the way to go but yes you can't tap into owner occupied mortgage tools such as HELOC's or high leverage.

Hi ALL,Can anyone recommend a easy to use property management tool that we can use, so far, we have 4 rentals and growing, We will like to have better control of the information and have a easy system for tenants to pay rent.As always, thank you for your input!!

Just a follow up question, were you utilizing debt to invest, I have always been taught since a young age to try and not utilize debt (I come from a family of stock market investors, traditional business owners) where debt is not utilized as frequently which I obviously understand debt can be a very powerful tool and utilized in a great way its just something I want to avoid with my investments to an extent any suggestions for investing without debt or as little as possible.