Does anyone have any suggestions, advice or a strategy to share with me?

@Jonathan Blanco, I'm and investor and a licensed mortgage broker so I've been on both sides of this conversation.I would look for a lender that (1) listens to you and understands your strategy and needs (hint: it's not always money), (2) has experience working with clients executing your strategy and brings more to the table than just cash - be it advice, relationships, deal-team partners, etc., (3) gives you viable options and explains the pros and cons of each option and (4) you enjoy interacting with - this should be a relationship, not a transaction.Once you find a few lenders like this (and you should have relationships with more than one), then you can start comparing rates and fees.

Just keep in mind the process can take a little longer since you’d need to work with contractors and follow FHA’s requirements.4.Your End Game: Whether you’re planning to stay long-term, rent it out, or sell once the work is done, it’s important to have your exit strategy mapped out.

The strategy may change, but every market can work.

I also think that investing remotely is something I would do after locking down my local strategy.

I think that strategy works best in higher areas or mid term rentals near major employers.  

A nice multi family property that you can do some light fixtures on sounds like a perfect strategy for you so you and your wife can have your own unit.

Hey Sarah, if the seller has an agent, it’s best to go through them first since they’ll likely get involved anyway.For a property that’s been sitting on the market, approach with strategy.

Hi Robert, your situation sounds exactly like another gentleman I am working with right now and helping with his 1031 strategy and execution.

With this strategy, we knew exactly how each house was operating and we could intervene or change leadership of the house if necessary to assure operations were going as we expected.