I love that you have specific goals for 2025 - I believe if we think it, write it, say it, and share it our goals are 10x more likely to come to fruition.Are you able to do option 2 and just house hack a 2-4 unit building and use a renovation loan which allows you to put down 3.5-5%I highly suggest getting to some local chicago meetup groups (we have an in person one on the 17th)...here is BPs list: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...I also have a full list of the chicago meetups that I can share with you too if that'd be helpful.

@Julie Doke: Industry specific software speaks to you and you can easily relate it to your day to day process.

Pretty solid appreciation in that area with an average of 5-7% per year, and it's also close to a lot of industries like the Chrysler plant.

Going to local RE events and finding other MTR investors in your area can help as well

Another work around that isn’t discussed much is working on a strategy with your insurance company to protect your other assets in the event of a claim.But also, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to consider getting the financing into your LLc name with a community bank and pulling cash out if you have substantial equity.Right now, since the loan is in your name, it shows up on your personal credit report.  

Any new commercial, industrial projects nearby? 

Visit the property and learn about various renovation stages, gain insights from our experienced investors / speaker, and learn strategies for evaluating deals, managing budgets, and maximizing ROI.What to expect:Property walkthroughsReview before photos and discuss transformation plansDive into real deal numbers—costs, profits, and challengesNetworking with industry prosOpen Q&A session to ask anything about the process

As a full-time student living on campus, I’m looking for part-time opportunities that could help me gain some experience in the real estate industry while also make a little bit of money. 

Networking events, seminars, and workshops help you connect with like-minded individuals and mentors.

I've been in the commercial real estate industry since 2006.