When working for yourself, buying BRRRRs, Flips, STRs, Etc, there is no advantage that I am aware of.

@Jeremy Nault HELOC is a line of credit and that creates advantages, but you could just do a cash out refinance on the property.

Getting started so young is a huge advantage.

You will be living here and utilizing the advantage of your high appreciation market, compounded with quality leverage from an owner occupied loan.

We are getting an Apple HQ over the next few years so you'll see continued job and wage growth.I also work with a handful of out-state-investors in both the Raleigh/Durham and Greensboro markets on purchasing rental properties with great success to take advantage of the aforementioned appreciation, great ROI on rental rates, and continued rent growth with the limited housing inventory and incredible demand.You can't go wrong buying in this market especially with the amount of capital you have and what I can only assume to be a strong DTI based on your original post.

You wanted a competitive advantage so you waived your inspection contingency.

Best advantage of note investing is there aren't many "life threatening" deadlines you need to jump on, so for the most part you can do your end of the deal when you're awake in your timezone.

You have significant tax advantages.

One of the many advantages of real estate is its tax advantages.

So, for these cases, I try to have a clear mind and get the best out of it.You are right, they are not inventing the wheel, and they say so, what they are doing, is just spreading information, educating people, gaining credibility and once they have prepared the land, they use it in their advantage and if they do not harm others, it should be ok.