So if you wanted a big portfolio, you could use the 600k as down payments on several properties, buy maybe one or two in cash (in cheaper markets), and use financing to leverage your current capital into a much bigger investment.

Hey everybody, thought I'd leverage the community brain and see if any investors in the area had any recommendations for local contractors and local hard money lenders.  

David Greene and I are both out of state investors and love educating those on the process, we hold monthly free seminars in the bay area if you are interested in attending, please let me know, we are here to help!

Try searching that area on www.NARPM.org there you will find the best educated and professional PM's

There are many experienced investors on here that will analyze your deal and make sure it is structured correctly.So in summary, the first thing I would do as a real estate investor is EDUCATE MYSELF.And we are happy to help in any way we can.Once again, congratulations and I wish you the best in your real estate investment career, Jason!

The reason is so you are educated on the legal and ethical aspects of selling homes. 

We'd leverage up to $300K max. 

There's a ton of risk with those number if you use a lot of leverage, and on the other side if you pay all cash the risk is less but the return is pitiful.Markets are on a tear right now. 

I have a family member who will loan me money to start set up my LLC as well as for other things, but they will not under any circumstances loan me money to purchase more education due to all the education my late wife and I have already purchased, and they check my purchases.

Want to leverage the equity to pay for the reno plus fund a down payment on another property, probably a four-plex in the Springs.