Regardless, this article has been trending over the last day, and I've gotten some good feedback, so I figured I'd share it here.

There are definitely pros and cons to each so I figured I would just lay out a few benefits and personal thoughts: Small banks/brokerages:Pros:- Some regional knowledge of the market- Possibility of more creative lending guidelines with bank specific programs- Sometimes they have competitive rates for their areaCons: - weak balance sheet (more strict on some guidelines, no wiggle room, inability to be flexible or grant exceptions because they cannot afford to hold less than perfect loans)- Can't scale with clients to different markets- Usually limits exposure to individual investors (they don't want one investor to be too big of a portion of their balance sheet)- Lack of experience with multiple solutions (tend to have 2 or 3 loan products they sell and are too niche to provide tailored solutions)Large banks/brokerages:Pros:- Large compliance departments that understand individual market guidelines (typically each state has specific lending guidelines that augment the national baseline)- Ability to scale into multiple markets with same lender (licensed in many states)- Impossible for individual investors to "outgrow" a large bank's balance sheet (not concerned with one investor's concentration)- More lending solutions available for different scenarios- Often comparable or better rates given the game is volume basedCons:- Can be more difficult to get fast responses if the bank/brokerage does not have good follow up systems in place (or if the underwriting/processing staff gets overwhelmed)- Bad large banks can feel less like a relationship and more like a cog in a factory (less personal)Overall, I have worked from both and worked with both as a loan officer, branch manager, and as an investor/client myself. 

@Abram Edawrd Inmanhire a PMlower the rentjust because you couldn't get ahold of their employer or landlord doesn't necessarily indicate a red flag. many employers and landlords won't talk to a random person

@Robert Rixer, I don't know how creative these are, as many are common plays:Valet TrashFencing in first floor yardsProviding washer and dryers for added rentReserved, Covered parkingTech PackagesInternet and Cable contracts, with reimbursementsPayment Plan rents, with small service charge (i.e. bill 1/4 rent each week)Reserved Rental cabanas at poolPrivate pool party rental optionGolf Simulator in clubhouse - fee basedOn site, self serve car wash (quarter feeder style)Charged group fitness/personal training servicesGame room in clubhouse with monthly subscription for tenants (Xbox, Playstation, etc)Changing out high maintenance grass for astro turf or lower maintenance/lower water use shrubberyBut ultimately, I think a lot of NOI increases come from deep dive into understanding EVERY expense and finding ways to minimize them, and/or no outsource them.Train maintenance team on basic HVAC and appliance repairs (find way to get them licensed as needed)Buy paint sprayers for faster, easier turns versus having to hire a contract painter, and possibly repaint whole unit each timeStandardize all finishes, so you can buy in bulk, everything from hinges and door knobs to cabinets, paint colors, and light fixtures.Potentially get leasing people onto lower base salary with higher bonus potentialBulk/bundled insurance across portfolio (even better at scale is to self insure)Regularly test sprinkler systems for leaks.Non-NOI, but benefit to you: partner with insurance agency to get referral kickbacks from your tenant base for renter insurance.  

Assuming the property is appraised at $650,000.00 I am hoping the equity will get my LVT to 75% eliminating the PMI, adding to the potential cash flow when I go to rent and then putting that cash flow + personal savings away to raise capital to buy another piece of property.I realize that in order to buy my next piece of property I will want to put down 20% to avoid PMI and a high mortgage but saving 20% for a piece of property in my area is going to take some time due to the high price ranges $500,000-$700,000.

Will you have a personal guarantor?

I don't have personal experience, but I hear Charlotte is the fastest growing and has strong rent rates.

I’m not active as I’ve only been to a few in person meetings before COVID but I can tell you that it’s a quality group.A friend of mine wanted to get into real estate investing.

When I had my property management company (and the people I sold it to and manage my properties continued it) the policy was late fees are split 50/50, which I think is the ideal scenario.My rational was it takes more time and effort as a PM to collect when a person isn't paying, and at the same time the owners might not receive the rent when they should, so 50/50 compensated us both. 

My BnB is one unit of a four duplex pod that shares a central driveway.