Should I get a loan or seek private investors?

On the other hand a line of credit might work for the down payment, but you will likely want to look for a private or hard money lender for the fix and flip portion and as a beginner, I would expect to put between 20-25% down and likely a bit more for closing costs and reserves. 

It is passive investment earnings, not self-employment income.If you wish to take existing retirement savings and diversify into things like real estate and private lending, a self-directed checkbook IRA would provide flexibility similar to the Solo 401(k).

With the 5% down, our mortgage payment would be about $5711 a month.

You look around every corner and someone has a mortgage note / debt fund.

Details: Current mortgage is $480k at 2.625%, $3,400 monthly payment. 

(BizJournal)Today’s Interest Rate: 6.91%(👇 .18% from this time last week, 30-yr mortgage)Economic CheckupThe economy is looking strong, and we always want to strongest economy we can get right?

Builder ends up screwing us over and we are out $250k which we are in the process of trying to get back.In the meantime, I'm trying to get a private or hard money loan to finish the buildsCurrent mortgage 273,000Rehab 1 - 150,000Rehab 2 - 150,000Current value for both places approx $350,000ARV $1,000,000 for bothPlan is to refinance and hold as STRI feel that these numbers are reasonable - am I missing something?

I think my only insight to share is that I've had a lot of new home sales agents complain (privately) to me that builders grind them on the commission "because they are getting so many to sell", but then it's still the same amount of work as one sale. 

Private money