We are quite close to zeroing out our liabilities, and attaining a strong financial footing from which we can begin our journey.However, I am vexed by the fierce urgency of now.

It is easy to get distracted by college life and kudos for you for taking charge of you financial future :)

@Grant Rothenburger, I don't think it's necessarily a lack of deals, but that everyone mailing to the same Absentee Owners.Investors in overcrowded markets need to look at alternatives like Seniors who have owned their home for 20+ years or Homeowners with low Financial Stability Scores (FSS).There's even a new list where you can mail to the children of the elderly homeowner - since they are the influencers.

I would just love the financial freedom as I feel like my husband works 24/7 just to pay bills and we barely travel.

My very first meeting with lenders, I had mapped various sample financial deals (one for each lender) from the biggerpocket.com calculator, printed them in pdf color and showed the lender that I had an understanding/command of certain business terms (cash on cash, IRR, ...etc). 

Hi @Lavette Pittman ,If memory serves correct, Sprout is an intermediary that connects you to the actual financial institutions that provide the funds, and they get a commission on you attaining those LOC.

Paying bills and recording financials.2.

My financial models show 15% cash on cash return on a $950K investment for 65% of the equity. 

However, if it makes big financial sense to refinance within 6 months, maybe can I even pay some penalty voluntarily to make up for the loss of the original lender?

I have some financial analysis I've done to help get some tax liens in the NW suburbs where I live.