I am currently looking at the Columbus market and am very interested in Dayton as well, although location is really not a factor for me - I will go where the deals take me.If you have any tips, tricks or guidance that could help someone learning as they go, I would greatly appreciate it!

Carli my name is joez 😊 .I have been and investor many years .First a few tips read rich dad poor dad Robert KEOSKI to simplify investing .Second to me it's all about the numbers .If you have NEGITIVE cash flow and there is no room for growth you are not in the right place .Finally keep all your investments within 20/25 minutes of your home you will be taking many trips in the beginning to open doors or turn on switches lol .Look in a good deal there is meat on the bone say and older person neglects in a good area potential clean up and flip so on .Final piece kiss keep it simple spiggette it's in all investing books hey good luck any questions I am Always looking to learn and do better 

Your options would be a cash out refi, or a HELOC (home equity line of credit).  

You guys could do a Cash Out Refi or get a line of credit against the property.  

I know we need to setup a separate bank account from our personal finances to run our rental properties business, but not sure if we should go through a "big bank" or "small bank"/credit union.  

I've got great credit and great income.  

i need more information in regards to your credit, experience and liquidity.

I feel bad if people pay the $15 credit check so I only do one applicant at a time.  

I give you credit for stepping out like this.

With my current financial position, the properties need to have at least 1.2 rent/value ratio or higher, be 75% of value, and $150k or less. if the numbers work out in the near future, i would like to start using hard money lenders for the down payment and closing costs on the properties, and purchase them traditionally. i would like for these properties to also have a 1.0 or higher rent/value, and with my current credit i can get approved for around $150k-$200k, so the property would need to be below that. once i fill up my 10 allowed traditional financing properties, then i would go hard money lenders for down payment / closing costs, and private financing for the long term. by that time though my own portfolio should be able to provide down payments in leu of hard money. your comments and positive feedback / critizism about my strategy going forward is appreciated. i am a brand new real estate investor, finishing up on my first hard money/refinance acquisition now, so im just getting started and looking to grow the portfolio quickly. thank you