Part of my issue was not having a reasonably priced handyman ahead of time and eventually overpaying to just get it done and also inexperience as a manager.With that said, you essentially have two options: very cheap properties in less good areas (you're looking at 100k or less--which you might have trouble getting a good lender for)  or trying to do some sort of house hack (e.g. live in flip, live in rent by the room, multifamily) where you budget will be closer to 200k-300k.Personally, I would not look at real estate until you are maxing out your 401k and IRA, but lots of folks have done significantly better with real estate than stocks and would think I'm crazy for suggesting this.

If it's a larger debt, I would not offer cash for keys.

I'm not showing up with a standard set of interview questions to ask them or anything of the sort.

I was able to replenish emergency fund money I had to dip into for furnishing, was able to pay off a hot tub, was able to replace 2 garage doors and paid for a larger repair this year.

I’m not claiming to know it all—I’m here to learn, build relationships, and grow.Here’s what I bring to the table:A strong understanding of leveraging Net Operating Income (NOI) to secure financing and reduce out-of-pocket costs.Experience in negotiating deals and identifying opportunities, especially in the LA market where many multi-family properties are under $2 million.Skills in managing larger properties, from scheduling repairs and upgrades to optimizing operations for long-term value.The ability to use AI tools for data analysis, market insights, and deal projections to help us act quickly and efficiently.I’ll be upfront—my funds are limited after dedicating the COVID years to supporting my family, but I have the work ethic and expertise to find and manage properties that perform.

I’m currently evaluating whether to go with a Fund Model instead of a traditional JV for an upcoming multifamily project, I will be working as a developer looking to do work with a more experienced developer on a larger scale multi-family opportunity.

Unit 2 - long-term rental (this will usually be with an existing tenant since you already have that running well or in a larger unit that might net the highest rent as a long-term)3.

That's it, but a) print out a page for each property you think is comparable, b) make the list of repairs long and inclusive of everything you've done. c) Put larger items first like kitchen remodel......and don't just say 'kitchen remodel', list things like 'custom backsplash tile/Bosch appliances/recessed can lighting/pot filler/etc. d) Cite the price/value of the work done, and don't be afraid to be generous.

A larger refundable deposit? 

My larger property scales up similarly.