While you await your cash-out refinance in Virginia, exploring a hard money lender (HML) is a speedy option.

Submetering is also an option.

One of my main flipper clients *sold 8 million for him roughly $200,000 of commissions is actually a licensed agent, selling a property is about much more then cutting costs and its actually rare to see people go for the cheaper options out there.

@Anna HoweConsidering your upcoming move and the challenges of long-distance property management, selling your home in Winnemucca might be a better option.

From my research it seems prices have gone up a lot in recent years so I am wondering if this strategy is still a feasible option for someone looking to start with a SFH for 150k or below, adding value with a rehab and getting a high enough appraisal to make it work. 

Hi Sammy,Glad to see you taking steps in your real estate investing career, it helps to get reps in and learn.As for what you should do, your title states that you have "little equity", does that mean there is little equity in the Florida property or you have little available for another equity investment.I'd caution a refi with little equity, as stability in the early stages of your investment career is crucial to long-term success, try not to over extend yourself and potentially end up behind.Having access to investors and partners is the name of the game for scaling and limited funds, if you have access to investor capital, working with a wholesaler to acquire a flip may be a good option just be mindful of the risks of as-is properties and having investor capital at risk. 

A vacant and re-habbed unit allows the option of a tenant to move into it, thus freeing up the next unit. 

This poses a challenge because one of the requirements for a 1031 exchange is that both the relinquished property (the property being sold) and the replacement property (the property being purchased) must be held for investment or used in a trade or business.If your client's mother purchased the land less than a year ago, it's unlikely that it would qualify as replacement property for a 1031 exchange because it hasn't been held for investment or used in a trade or business for a sufficient amount of time.However, there may be other options available to minimize the tax implications for your client and his mother:Hold the Property Longer: If your client's mother holds onto the land for a longer period of time and can demonstrate that it is held for investment purposes, it may become eligible for a 1031 exchange in the future.Consider Other Investment Properties: Your client could explore other investment properties that have been held for a longer period of time and would qualify as replacement property for a 1031 exchange.

Lending would be something else to focus on , the more options you have the better!

I'm still doing market research and can't decide what would be a less riskier option for me, is it better to find a property in a vacation destination that's more rural and outdoors or a property in a more urban/metro area?