Gotta have some skin in the game. 

Hi Marcus,There are many ways to skin a cat per se lolPersonally, I'd rather have volume and 10 "in da hood" where the numbers don't lie and where I know what I'm doing.Then buying using a tonne of leverage and hoping the market will appreciate."

You do run a "risk" of being outbid at REO sale and "losing" the property, but given that may happen, the "total debt" is your security as you may bid up to that amount where it makes sense, but you may also be able to cash out for a healthy profit at sale if you so choose.

Healthy tenant base and rental demand as well as two section 8 voucher providers in the city, CTI and LHA.

The deposit amount when working with a lender comes from the lender - it is basically the amount of skin the lender wants you to have in the game. 

After 35 years I’ve developed a healthy respect for this business from the school of hard knocks.The day I’ve discovered this business is easy or simple will be a good day to retire.

If they have paid off property (especially if the investor is much older), they probably have a healthy stock portfolio as well :) Debt has worked for me, and I'm glad it works for you too!

The key is ensuring that even with a slight deviation, there’s still enough room for a healthy profit after costs.Regarding hard money lenders, many investors use them to leverage their capital and scale up projects, even if it means accepting reduced profit margins due to interest and fees.

As a 3rd-party real estate consultant that has no skin in the game other than what I charge, I provide exactly what you've described—unbiased, no-nonsense, and straightforward advice.

There will always be a level of fear of failure and you will most likely experience some, mitigating that with diligence will keep you in a healthy state of paranoia.