A good real estate agent that works in your market should be able to help identify desirable neighborhoods, as well as realistic prices.

Currently, I have 5-6 projects that require a general contractor to assemble crews and bring them to completion.

Cash flow is required to live well.

Also a very good point about the railing on porches being required based on height of the porch.

It does not matter whether its real estate, or day trading, flying a plane or anything that continues to require repetitive knowledge.Then people get upset that after a year they have done nothing, because they had no money to do it (but of course many gurus will tell you that you can do it without money because that is probably their biggest revenue generator).

In NC, when you speak to a potential seller, you are legally required to share with them that you're an agent even if you're there to buy their property or wholesale it off-market.

In 2021 and early 2022, you saw a lot of people just like yourself getting excited about real estate and capitalizing on the "easy money" in the economy and investor desire to get into real estate.  

DSCR loans require 20% down on purchases.

I recently bought a new property that requires a bathroom remodel and the old carpet needs to be replaced with vinyl flooring.

The seller won't require an appraisal like a bank will, so you should order your own.