Understanding the terms, qualifications, and overall structure is crucial—after all, a loan is a loan, and knowing how to leverage it properly makes all the difference.As for Zillow, IMO, one should never use it for ARV.

My NW Philadelphia projects which are on the outskirts of Philadelphia (but still city proper) have been my best performers.

Hi Robert, in terms of the work that could be done easily I suggest activities such as painting, flooring if you have the proper tools, and tiling.

Hello Solomon,A few tips I have for you would be to first; Analyze Deals Properly – Use the 1% rule (monthly rent ≥ 1% of purchase price) and calculate cap rate, cash flow, and ROI before buying. 

I want to make sure I screen tenants properly, but I am not sure where to start.

Take ownership of your mistake and learn to do the proper due diligence recommended above😊https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91097-why-you-should-screen-a-pm-company-like-you-screen-for-tenantshttps://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91878-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-2-communication-and-documhttps://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91879-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-3-the-management-contr

For context, this would be for a property I already own.I understand this may be a bit unconventional and people will likely recommend I get a proper quote and have the contractor do a full walkthrough.

✅ Yes, IF:You have a system in place for cleaning and chemical balancing.You have a reliable team that can check thisYou market it properly (highlight it in photos and listing descriptions).🚫 Not Worth It IF:You don’t have a dedicated team or someone to balance for every turn.Your climate or guest demographic wouldn’t use it often enough to justify the cost.Make sure to have waivers, I ran into issues with people saying they got bacteria from it etc.

.🚨 Common issues I see:❌ Not properly tracking repairs vs. capital improvements❌ Missing out on cost segregation & depreciation write-offs❌ Scrambling at tax time instead of planning proactivelyI’d love to hear from the group—what’s been your biggest tax headache as an investor?

You will find something if you are diligent and do the proper analysis.