Just wanted to introduce myself.My name is Ariel, I am 32 years old (this Thursday), and I am making my first steps as a real estate investor.As I live abroad, most if not all of my work would be remote, and right now I am focusing on Jacksonville, FL.My main goal for this year is to fix and flip  at least 2 SF's properties, and for the next few years to increase this number, maybe do some MF, and possibly to also BRRR when I raise enough of my own capital.At the moment, my biggest challenge is the fact that I am remote, so I could use some help from a local realtor or management company.It's so amazing to know this community  exists, and I am thrilled to actually take part in it

Challenges?

-Opportunity cost: A 7% interest rate isn’t great, but if you think you can achieve returns higher than 7% by buying another cash-flowing property, paying off the mortgage might not be the best use of funds.Now, let’s explore saving to buy another property:Investing in a Second PropertyPros:-Diversifies your portfolio, reducing risk if your Palm Desert STR underperforms or faces challenges (e.g., stricter regulations or lower demand).

Challenges?

." - which to me indicates the same doubts that I have about the legality of the IRS position.Until the IRS is challenged in court over this position and loses, I choose to comply with their position.

Hi @Jacob Dalton,Thanks for sharing your situation—it’s clear you’ve put a lot of thought into this decision, and I can understand why you’re concerned given the challenges of being a landlord in Cook County.Screening tenants is definitely a key step, but I agree it’s not foolproof.

Not having experience qualifying prospects I would think that the leads you would get from here, if any, would be..... challenging. 

Challenges?

It's a challenging market but I say if you can pay less then you currently are renting then it's a win.

I’ve hit a challenge in shifting my mindset and would like to ask the group - if I’m not an extrovert with a sales background and the cushion of a 6-figure corporate job, will I be able to succeed at REI?