For funds, remember you're allowed to use 401k / retirement accounts, if you're comfortable with that.Good luck!

Depends on how aggressive you want to grow your portfolio and how much risk you are comfortable taking on.Also, keep in mind that when you refi your primary, you sign a Note & Mortgage attesting that you will owner-occupy the property for the next 12 months.

If I was in your shoes and had time to kill but money sitting there I would invest it in index funds so it grew until I was ready to pull it out to invest in real estate. 

My clients don't always get the best rate, or best loan package, but they chose the lender they feel comfortable with.Now, I also usually ask if they would like the contact information of a few local lenders that past clients have used, and do a good job.  

I'd probably interview real estate agents until I found one that I was comfortable with and I felt was capable of finding a potential house hack property. 

Besides that, the BP books and podcasts are terrific but I do think they allow you to feel a lil too comfortable by procrastinating with preparation.

Obviously, you can mess around with your numbers in excel and see what you are comfortable with.

I could always find the money, but I don't think I'd be too comfortable grabbing a foreclosure for my first deal.

They have already made money and have enough to be comfortable.

She has basically asked us if he can move in November 1st and has already assumed it would be fine with us…We are not comfortable with the situation and are trying to figure out what our options are.