We will then, as the units turn over, get rents up a good bit further with additional design improvement renovations and hopefully reno into lower interest rates when they drop or at the very least in 5 years on our 20 year we'll have paid off enough to refi into a smaller loan.That is the only kind of smaller deal we can find in neighborhoods where we want to buy now. 

Focus on the numbers and the goals, not personal feelings.

I get a good laugh when I read  new investors post about buying C/D neighborhood assets liabilities and announce to the world how well they perform in the first few years focused solely on cash flow. 

Here’s a breakdown of the main ways investors fund their first deal while minimizing their own cash outlay:1.Private Money & Hard Money Loans– These lenders focus more on the deal than on your personal finances.

Also, if you wish to focus more on the central KY areas I am your guy.

Find an area to focus on, research it for 6 months, then score a deal.

Some become hyper focused on investing and wrongly prioritize their thirst for real estate investing to impact other areas of their life.

My primary business is Real Estate and that is what I focus on.

Make it part of your business model and focus on scaling vs managing.

Focus on key areas first (like floors, walls, kitchen, or bathroom), which may help you handle the costs more gradually, even if it means moving in furniture or updating fixtures down the line.Also, since the tenant left it in rough shape, be sure to document all the damage (photos, receipts) in case you decide to pursue reimbursement through their security deposit or in court.