My only regret is not having more in reserves before investing.

It took 90 days or so to get confirmation your deed and mortgage had been recorded so you had this huge period of time that the bad actors could step in and pull some really crummy stuff..

If you are reliant on a GC how are you confirming all of the sub contractors are licensed and insured?

The investment plan includes property acquisition, reserve fund creation, rent maximization, and equity growth.

I recommend consulting a tax professional for confirmation on how international properties are treated in your specific case.

When successful it is quite rewarding and can lead to favorable basis and financing opportunities but there are certainly risks and its important to have plenty of reserves and be realistic with time frames.

A balanced approach, combining financing with a cash reserve for stability, maximizes tax efficiency, inflation protection, and aligns with your goal of retiring sooner.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

In my opinion, in order to move forward, you have to have a somewhat significant cash flow that allows you to build reserves again.

Your realtor should be able to confirm or deny the above. 

First, I would confirm the values of the values of the properties you currently have, along with the cash flow you get from the rentals.