Thanks Chris -- will definitely start talking to specific lenders.

The data collection websites like awning, can be unreliable and don't factor in the specific amenities/upsells that a specific rental has. 

Hey @Chris Strandburg, so the reason a lot of folks say stay out is there are a lot of restrictions.For example from the PDF the city has provided-What are the main eligibility criteria to participate in Home-Sharing?

There are probably very specific laws depending on the city that you are in.

Is there a specific strategy that you'd recommend for someone young like me to get my feet wet or should I just go with what I'm most interested in and have the most knowledge in, which is buy and hold rentals?

Are you looking for agents in a specific area? 

At the moment there are some potentially intriguing properties on the market here that may meet your criteria.

Target a price based on where I am in my REI plan, which has a specific amount of cash available, and a specific return needed from that cash, at the specific timeline in my plan. 

Leveraging that asset to finance another deal is smart play, and the townhouse you're eyeing seems like it could be a great addition to your portfolio.When it comes to budgeting for renovations, it's definitely a challenge to nail down accurate estimates, especially when resources might feel a bit outdated or not region-specific.

Are you looking for properties specifically in the city of Grand Rapids, or the surrounding areas as well?