Hey @Henry Lazerow - I would tend to agree that most of the NW side of Chicago 2-4 units don't play out perfectly well for BRRRR deals.I always looked at any potential house hack vs. having to rent - if my overall payments were less than the rent I generally considered that a win.For me...the house hack is just the ticket into the amusement park and then the fun rides come after...getting started can be overwhelming and hard so I can see why people might take a discount.I think one of the keys to strong equity creation is square footage creation which is basically what you outlined with duplexing up or down.

Find one that meets your needs as far as flexible pricing, no high volume minimums if you're just starting out.

I started my journey in a small town in Nebraska, flipping houses and learning the ropes through hands-on experience.

Google zombie mortgages.Note if a loan is charged off the loan can no longer accrue interest unless the lender starts issuing statements again

Should I focus on paying that off first before I invest or does it make sense to start my real estate journey and use the cash flow to help pay it off faster?

Initially, I started with a project called Dealsletter, which has grown quite well and has received positive feedback from the real estate investing community.

It may not cashflow from Day 1, but will in 1-3 years and you'll have nice appreciation.That's how my manager started out and what he still tries to do.DM us if you'd like to chat more.

It's no guarantee but it's a good place to start.

Obviously we're seeking to do an inspection and have the property appraised, but I think we are in a good starting position.

Are travel nurses who work odd hours going to feel safe in this area, since you say it's somewhat sketchy?