Explore Potential Funding OptionsPrivate Money Lenders (PMLs): Reach out to private individuals looking to invest in real estate.

For first-time investors, neighborhoods like Riverside, Murray Hill, and North Jacksonville could be good places to start, offering strong rental demand and potential for growing neighborhoods.

Since you haven't received the funds yet, you cannot claim any loss for 2024.If you receive the 10% return of principal in 2025 and the investment is officially terminated or sold at that time, you could potentially claim a capital loss for the remaining 90% on your 2025 taxes.

To me the most frequent issue I see in posts and discussions is not discussing how to scale and also Risk adjusted returns.  

In my opinion, making an offer site unseen is not a risk.

And therein lies the risk of high-leverage.  

This is much lower than the costs associated with refinancing.Benefits of Mortgage RecastingLower Monthly Payments: The most immediate benefit is a reduced monthly payment, which can free up cash for other financial goals.Save on Interest: By reducing your principal balance, you’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan, potentially saving thousands of dollars.No Credit Check or Appraisal: Unlike refinancing, recasting doesn’t require a credit check, income verification, or home appraisal, making it a quicker and simpler process.Keep Your Current Interest Rate: If you have a favorable interest rate on your current loan, recasting allows you to maintain it while still lowering your payments.Drawbacks of Mortgage RecastingRequires a Lump Sum: Not everyone has the cash on hand to make a significant lump sum payment, which can make recasting inaccessible for some homeowners.Doesn’t Shorten Loan Term: While your monthly payments are lower, recasting doesn’t reduce the length of your loan.

.- Many of these HCOL areas also have strict limitations on AirBnB or short-term rentals... that do not apply to owner-occupants - thus allowing for extreme cashflow potential for house-hackers.

And since you are licensed, you can potentially do some sales on the side to increase income and save up for investing.

I have considered doing a TIC/coop in San Dego but have the belief, without any data except for how I would value the financing challenges and tic risks, as being much greater than 10% price difference from condo price.