Quote from @Leonard La Rocca III: So is it common to find a conventional loan without meeting the lender in-person?

For context when we do this our biweekly payments have been around $485 per paycheck so around $1,000 per month of lost income per person when we both do it. 

I’ve personally received a plethora of value from the BP podcasts as well as the connections I’ve made through BP.

Connect with a housing coordinator if that position is available in your area and stay in contact with that person. 

However, a common benchmark is aiming for at least 6-8% cash-on-cash return based on your total investment (purchase price + rehab + closing costs).Always factor in appreciation potential, tax benefits, and personal risk tolerance.

@Denis Orlov I don't do STR, but I've rented one of my personal properties for arbitrage before. 

Consider whether an LLC is right for you—it can provide liability protection but isn’t essential for a single property, as personal liability insurance and an umbrella policy may suffice.

I second this, I use rentredi for my personal properties and it makes life super easy.  

Meaning they went into a standalone bank account (not mixed with your other personal funds). 

I would build a relationship with the person before you decide to partner.