Hello everyone,Longtime lurker here, I've been educating myself about the space and saving up capital to start my real estate journey.

One area I'd love more info on is how to manage general contractors remotely. 

The only cost the deal needs to absorb that's relevant is the interest, and even that is really just the delta between the actual interest paid and the tax savings on that interest on your federal return. 

@Jane Kim Congrats on saving 70k, that's a great start!

If the house is located in prime area, perhaps STR would makes sense with some tax loopholes that you can achieve and save.

on $166K you can get 5+% in a savings account. 

Save your cash, learn the skill and techniques and learn you market.

Saving 3% per year will save you $1k/yr, $80/mo, of getting the loan costs you nothing.

I am in Missouri right now staying in cheap hotels for work, I got out here a month or two ago and the plan has been to buy a property, preferably a duplex.I did pretty well selling solar last year and have saved up some cash to use as a downpayment for the first property.

While the closing costs may be higher than a HELOC, the long-term interest savings might outweigh this initial expense depedning on the property value, LTV, credit, etc.Really depends on your strategy/perspective (short/long-term play, where rates are going, current fianncial position, etc).