I do understand that not partnering pushes back your timeline substantially...I'm in the slow and steady wins the race and stay small, own it all camp, though. 

As others have stated, your fit & finish goals should be guided by whether you plan to:1) Rent: tenants don't always take care of a property, so you want to use lower-grade materials and workmanship.2) Flip: higher quality on workmanship and materials is usually required.Regardless, you always want to "Maintain to the Neighborhood".

Still, we've re-opened our VRBO listing and have just started a listing with Mini Stays to see how they perform. 

I am staying wondering why there is so little information on tax liens,  i read some books on notes and foreclosures but looks like a big secret here... maybe that's the reason... i need to go into this to find out :)

The thing about condos is the HOA will go up and your mortgage stays the same so you will end up losing by the end of the mortgage. 

Staying local and house hacking—especially now, before kids—gives you so much flexibility to set yourselves up for long-term success.Your financial foundation is super strong, and house hacking a quad sounds like an amazing first step for you two.

@Heather Bailey Wow thank you so much for spending your time to help guide me!

I'm an investor and mortgage broker and have options for loans that go as low as $75,000 and down payments as low as 15%, which makes it easier to stay above $75,000.

Welcome to BP - this is a great platform to initiate your real estate journey.Dive into comprehensive guides, connect with experienced professionals, and explore a wealth of opportunities that can help you achieve your real estate goals. 

while leaving with happy tenants who will stay!