Get super familiar with your location of choice and work with people who have your best interests.

Enough” - “Your success as an investor will be determined by how you respond to punctuated moments of terror, not the years spend on cruise control”The Noticer: - “One way to define wisdom, is the ability to see into the future the consequences of your choices in the present.

So depending on what you want buying a business might be the better choice for you. 

If you don't have the downpayment, go make some cash so that you do, either through saving from your normal income or some real estate investing efforts.Your point on debt paydown, although true, is not relevant to the argument of BRRR vs. traditional rental.

There's some great choices, but what it comes down to is what your buying strategy/criteria is. 

That’s always going to win in the end as to coming out ahead as long as you make smart financial investments (such as maintaining control of your own investments, and making smart choices on properties that cash flow, etc).  

Rates are typically higher than a traditional cash out refinance, however at least you are not getting the full loan amount + you have the flexibility to draw/tap in the money whenever needed.

I have also helped a variety of both local and OOS investors buy in the metro using owner occupant and traditional investor financing.

The process is pretty simple, but it does involve extra steps compared to a traditional rental.

So if you are buying a property the traditional way, using an agent, you won't usually get answers when it comes to the condition.