Providing something unique in a very competitive environment is essential Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

As one whom does mortgages for a living (and is a bit of an anal control freak with such things) I expected professional courtesy of being a little more transparent with the UW and Title items going on in the background.  

I've got a pretty wide-scoping background (construction, banking and finance, house hacking, and professional property management) that has allowed me to see property investing from a multitude of viewpoints.

Alongside the bigger pockets community of course! 

I know people paying cash in multiple states so theoretically it "cash flows" but I'm not a fan of paying cash Can you do MTR or STR in Fresno to traveling medical workers or corporate professionals so you have less negative CF vs.

The cash flow jump was substantial and so of course I'd like to acquire more.

Nonetheless, the rules regarding how losses can be used to offset gains can vary by state, so it's advisable to reach out to a professional tax advisor that can recommend solutions based on careful examination of your situation.

Then with the equity you build up through loan paydown and appreciation over the course of a few years you can cash out refinance and use that money to snowball into another property.

Not all STR's are created equal Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Here’s how it worked: Private money, which comes from individual investors, and hard money, from professional lending institutions, covered all the costs.