We manage a property in Gatlinburg Falls, and the internet has been down for over a week now.  I've logged over 30 hours of phone time with their "management" trying to resolve the issue.  These people are the lowest ...

You buy a first property, and when you refinance to get equity out you're effectively borrowing the money for the downpayment and paying interest on it.  

I personally think it's a smarter model than the big box right now, but you will get more real life training at a big box.Actually Jonathan, my goal is to offer agents the ability to be an agent-owner of their brokerage by receiving stock awards, and the opportunity for monthly passive income streams that sure help you to 'get buy' in a down market when commissions aren't coming in. 

I primarily buy in Columbus and have done several equity plays and successful BRRRR.

For Example, my Note Investing notebook has Sub Categories for Consolidated Note Resources, Goals, Note Buying Criteria, Foreclosure Timelines and Costs, State Specific Notes, Systems for The Note Business, Collection Time Tables, Note Conferences, Bankruptcy in Notes.. 

Do a Google search for "Boommates" and you'll find references to the Golden Girls TV show and discussions about two significant issues older people face: the high cost of housing and loneliness.For younger people, we call this "house hacking," where someone buys a house and takes in roommates to help cover the costs.

I'd love to buy you a coffee, chat, and learn from your experience!

this is a toughie. hard money specifically is equity-driven, meaning they'll likely want 40%+ down to even entertain the deal. additionally, land without improvements is often very inexpensive (relative to land with improvements), usually pushing below a threshold which makes sense for a hard money lender. if you're not intending to build right away, then i think you'll have the best luck with private money instead of hard money. usually higher leverages than hard money, and more negotiable terms.if you are intending to build on it pretty right away, a ground-up construction loan could work, but those will typically require some ground-up construction experience (on title on other ground-up deals), or an extensive portfolio of heavy rehabs/ rentals/ strong liquidity. those will give you acquisition monies (to buy the land) and build monies (to build the improvements).

I buy properties in AS IS condition and  mostly in New Jersey area but I want to venture on other areas and help homeowners that are facing foreclosure.

I think as Americans, we put too much emphasis on moving out/being on your own.