Rates will be higher of course.

The mentors are all very nice and try to be helpful, but if you have to put the course on a credit card then save the money and invest it

It should be free and usually it's a soft credit check...so there's almost no downside to getting prequalified.  

While approval might pose a challenge due to your lack of flipping experience, a solid renovation plan and clear exit strategy can bolster your chances, especially with strong credit.

I then declined due to income and credit; which is still an area where we can decline.

Interest rate as of March 2024 is around 8% for refinance and it's challenging to find something that return at least 10% cash on cash right now. with the line of credit like HELOC you only pay when you draw. good luck!

Of course, your skill set is worth the money.

(Which is not my overall goal of course).

In advance: know what credit score, income, and equity are needed before you purchase to be able to achieve this every five years.

You can always complete a line of credit or cash out refinance and repurpose that equity while keeping the asset (all tax free money).