Can anyone please share their insight/expertise on the South Bend market?

Drop that bank and rely on the expertise in this thread.

He then proceeded to tell me that while he appreciated my expertise, he would NEVER borrow from me because my rates were 1/2 point to 1 point higher than competitors.  

I would say that the section 8 experience has been overall the most rewarding on a deeper level.  

Fixer uppers - higher risk higher reward potentialTurnkey - lower risk lower reward potentialDepends on your skills and how heavy of a turn the property is. 

You’ll save on labor and can invest those savings back into the property.Value Addition: With your expertise, you’ll likely be able to add more value to the property through your renovations than a contractor might.

Also, the leads come from up to 10 different states, and my only area of expertise is Atlanta and Memphis, so I found it difficult to convert many of the leads.Take this with a grain of salt though, as the service may work for you even though it hasn't worked all that well for me!

I would highly recommend interviewing local real estate agents in the area that also show expertise in STRs.  

Partnering with an experienced investor is a smart move—combining your construction expertise with their real estate knowledge could be a powerhouse for success.I love your vision of tackling the housing shortage and creating more affordable homes.

You both have to be on board or it doesn’t work, but if you work together and have a goal, then each step towards that goal feels more rewarding, even if it’s just saving $x more a month towards a future down payment.