I tried to create rapport with the owner over the phone but waited to present my real agenda only in person.   

Hi @Michael Ewers all great advise here but one thing that I will say is that you just has to try and see if that is what you like to do. 

Things definitely change once you're married but if you don't have any kids and your wife is open to it you may want to try finding a duplex, triplex or quadplex to buy as a primary.

Can try to reposition to Class B, but neighborhood may impede these efforts.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620 (approaching 22% probability of default), many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years.

When I do this I try to pay the money back as fast as possible. 

To answer your questions here though:Alternative options - I was going to sell all my stocks and etfs, take out a HELOC, and some credit cards to try to shoestring together enough to the deal without a hard money loan. 

Because you won’t owe anything, and because I ASSUME you aren’t going to bother trying to go after them legally.

I'd start small and just try to learn the game of flipping. 

If the new administration actually enacts their policy stances on tariffs, immigration, trying to ignite the economy even more....all of those things add up to higher inflation.

Can try to reposition to Class B, but neighborhood may impede these efforts.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620 (approaching 22% probability of default), many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years.