It seemed like a long-term play with less price or industry volatility.

Hard money is short term and expensive.  

@Scott Trench - have you considered investing in short term rentals, materially participating, and having the average stay be less than 7 days?

You’re asking the right questions, and it’s great to see you thinking strategically.My Take on Your SituationSince you already own a rental and want to expand your portfolio, your main decision points are:1.How to pull equity to fund your next deal2.Whether to transfer your current rental into an LLC3.How to position yourself for long-term growthHere’s how I’d approach it:HELOC vs.

The sofa bed was always temporary, and I plan to replace it with a queen + twin bunk setup, bringing the total occupancy to 7 long-term.To maximize income this summer, I’m debating keeping the sofa bed in a spare nook, bringing capacity to 9.

A local real estate lawyer or translator can ensure you fully understand the terms and conditions of the purchase.Other Costs to Consider- Closing Costs: In addition to your down payment, expect to pay an additional 8-12% of the property price for:- Notary Fees: Around 1-2% of the purchase price.- Property Transfer Tax (Grunderwerbsteuer): 3.5-6.5%, depending on the region- Land Registration Fees: Approximately 0.5-1.5%.- Realtor Fees: As mentioned, these range from 3-7% of the purchase price, plus VAT.Benefits for Service Members- Equity Building: Owning property builds equity over time, providing long-term financial security.- Strong Rental Potential: If reassigned, you can rent the property out in Germany high-demand rental market.- Tax Advantages: Germany offers tax deductions for property owners, which can help offset some costs.Key TakeawaysService members have a unique opportunity to buy property in Germany with minimal upfront costs.

Looking at this property as a long term rental strategy.

As long as you are following the law and the lease, you shouldn't worry about lawsuits.

Some investors also use a business line of credit backed by their cash flow, which can help with future deals.If you’re planning to scale, maybe start stacking that cash for the next property or even park some in T-bills for short-term returns.

This my friends on BP is just the reality of Real Estate you have two basic methods One mom and pop keep their day jobs and start buying long term hold rentals as they can afford them and if they like it they keep at it..Two you jump in the game and try to make money transactionally IE RE Broker  Flipper Wholesaler MLO  leasing agent etc etc.. this also is a long term ramp.. what the Guru programs attract generally speaking is those that get excited think they can somehow buy a program ( any program pick one) and its going to jump start them to this mythical financial freedom everyone talks about..