After that's under control, focus on increasing income through additional work at your current job, taking on a side hustle, or finding ways to increase income on your existing rental.At the same time, educate yourself.

HELOC Basics:A revolving credit line secured by your home’s equityLow interest rates, but often variableDraw period (5-10 years) → Repayment period (10-20 years)✅ Pros: Lower interest than other loans, flexible access to funds, potential tax benefits⚠ Cons: Home is collateral, payments may increase, short repayment termWhen It Makes Sense:The rental property cash flows enough to cover HELOC paymentsYou borrow conservatively (avoid over-leveraging)You have a backup plan in case of market shiftsSafer Alternatives:Save a larger down paymentConsider seller financingPartner with another investorFinal ThoughtsWith your timeline set for November 2025, take time to research markets, build connections, and plan financing wisely.📌 Key Takeaways:Out-of-state investing can work but requires a solid local team.Use online tools like BiggerPockets, Rentometer, and Roofstock for analysis.A HELOC can help, but be mindful of risks and repayment terms.

I think we have enough software in the STR world lolWhat if we made a guide to increase occupancy rates that centers around marketing, guest experience, and ways to stand out in saturated markets that isn't simply "buy more amenities"?  

The median home sold price reached $582,329, reflecting a 9.7% increase from the previous year, with a median price per square foot of $325.

**************************************************************************Insurance premiums of American homeowners rose last year, with rates increasing by more than 20 percent in six states, according to a recent report from S&P Global.In 2024, insurers raised rates by 10.4 percent as of Dec. 27, which followed a 12.7 percent hike in the previous year, according to the Jan. 21 report from the company.In total, 33 states saw premiums climb by double digits last year, with the largest spike seen in Nebraska at 22.7 percent.

We also have many unique buyer incentives where an investor can get up to a 10% price reduction to come into immediate equity, or get that 10% as a cash back at closing to reduce your down payment and increase your ROI, or buy rates down into the low 4s on 30yr loans to maximize cash flow.

I am thinking to switch to online rent collection from receiving checks in the mail, but worried that receiving 1099k will increase the complexity during tax filing time.

Leverage will be reduced from the max available, reserve requirements increased and, typically, you would be required to use a professional property manager.

And I'd argue the average rents can be increased nearly 30% based on the current FMRs in the zip code.

The land has slightly increased in value (by like maybe 3-4% over 3 or so years) but the value of the structure I'm pretty sure has gone nowhere.