My concern with declining values, increased inventory and a weaker economy would lower rental income and could potentially put me into a negative cash flow situation.

Smart thermostats, in particular, can help you monitor energy use and lower costs between stays.I hope everyone’s experiences and perspectives help guide you as you start this journey!

In this market, I would not finance a first time flipper at 75% profit split because the profits and success rate is lower than the last dozen years.  

Their ability to recover their money should you default is much lower in this position.

Just the different brand name lowers the cost dramatically!

My humble advice to anyone attempting to do creative finance is:Creative finance is for experienced investors who have access to capital if anything goes wrong.Learn the lawsDon't use a contract "off the internet", laws vary by state and are also regulated on a federal levelLearn the financing techniques correctlyDon’t skip parts of the processDon’t ever do a “kitchen table” closingUse the proper deedAn attorney can help you with the legal work, but the rest you are on your ownYour guru will not bail you out“Investing” in someone else’s deal by providing a small 2nd loan so the “investor” can pay for “cash to the seller” and for “closing costs” so he can do the deal is a very bad planKnow what problems can ariseLearn the responses and solutions to problems before they are neededKnow everything there is to know about Title and what that meansKnow who a "protected class" individual isLearn the "back doors"Learn human natureUnderstand timelinesUnderstand regulation enforcement (some of these "mistakes" have a 10 year statue of limitations ( they can charge you 10 years AFTER you do the transaction) and carry hefty fines and possible imprisonmentThe court doesn't accept "I didn't know" for an answer"Know that the source of the lead plays a serious role in some states and federallyKnow how much of a "profit" pushes the boundaries to invite an investigationYou can be sued by the seller if you don’t do things correctlyYou are automatically at fault if an investigator or attorney or regulator gets involved.

There a handful that can do lower  than 620 at 50% LTV, however the rate will be very high My current score is around 670-680.

You’re able to learn the basics of a real estate investment with lower risk and build equity at the same time.

I live in Asheville and am looking at STR in the Franklin area - agree with other posters that it's sort of between more desirable destinations, but also seems that the lower prices reflect that.

There is a ton of fix and flip going on in Brooklyn and I am trying to work my confidence towards that after my first project at a lower price point around 300K somewhere (CT seems like my only option).