I have known and worked with Matt for years.I have attended his training and hired him as a consultant.He is hands down the best at what he does.I have personally raised over $50 million for my hard money lending company.I am grateful for a lot of people who helping me with this success and Matt is at or near the top of that list.

If managing it yourself feels unsustainable in the long run, hiring a good property manager could give you more peace of mind.Since a 1031 exchange or like-kind replacement doesn’t seem to be a good fit for your current situation, you could consider a HELOC if you need to tap into the equity for other investments without selling the property, although rates are high so this would eat up your cash flow.

The tax rate difference from from long term to short term alone won't make it worthwhile in my opinion- add the 401K withdrawal penalty on top.

I have a long rennovation project I bought in the summer that I am currently working on and am looking to get a few turnkeys on top of that.

My ideal location is in the middle so I'm away from severe flood risk, but still 15-20 mins tops to downtown or the beach.  

I don't know how the really big players stomach it.Something else I failed to mention was how the PM's are also tacking on fees on top of rent to extract even more money from our tenants. 

For example, I often recommend working with vendors who specialize in rental property maintenance or have experience with rental landscaping to keep your property looking great without overspending.Start Small and SmartFocus on buying a property that fits your budget and investing goals.

It’s worth researching to see if this might be a good fit for your situation.Lease Structure and Clauses: Work with an attorney to draft a lease with strong clauses for late fees, maintenance responsibilities, and other terms to protect your interests.Target Stable Tenant Profiles: While no tenant is risk-free, targeting tenant pools that historically have more stability (e.g., retirees, dual-income households, or tenants relocating for work) may reduce risk.Stay Up to Date on Landlord-Tenant Laws: Understanding your rights and obligations can help you navigate issues more effectively if they arise.That said, if the potential risks are keeping you up at night and the financial pressure of an eviction would be too much, selling may still be the best option for peace of mind.

Unfortunately, the tenant didn’t think me showing up to have a brief conversation was important enough to fit me in her busy schedule.

You will be required to get a foundation inspection report on top of an appraisal and you are required to pay for both.That is why I said make sure you do your research because if you pay for an appraisal or foundation inspection report and its not within guide lines you will have just wasted anywhere from $650 to $1000.00 non refundable.