Depending on your risk tolerance and investment goals, exploring short-term Treasury Bonds, high-yield savings accounts, or diversified alternative assets like private lending or REITs could also be worth considering.

BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy.

I highly recommend you start going to meetups.  

In this case, I would recommend investigating a HELOC for a few reasons:1.

I would forgo altogether the decorative fence too. regarding the driveway & sidewalk I would recommend not adding a brick ribbon.

In solar sales (door to door) the setters typically make about this same range.Most companies in the house flipping world seem to buy lists online or run basic skip traces of areas and send lists to VAs to setup calls with the owner of the company.   

The only reason I recommend focusing on a couple neighborhoods, is because house hacking entails buying in a neighborhood you want to live in.  

If approaching the seller directly, how do you recommend I go about it? 

You are right about high risk of default.

I’ve been listening to the BiggerPockets podcast daily on my commute and finally decided to jump into the forums to learn, connect, and start taking action.A little about me:I work as a Substation Design Engineer and currently live near the Jersey Shore.I’m focused on learning about house hacking, buy-and-hold rentals, and creative financing strategies.Right now, my biggest challenges are:Understanding the best financing options for a first-time investor.Finding a solid market near me that aligns with my budget and goals.Learning how to analyze deals with confidence.If anyone has tips, resources, or experiences they’d be willing to share, I’d love to hear them!