A debt service loan would be a good option if your DTI is high, you want to close in an LLC, you're self-employed or have low income on paper, or you don't have a stable 2-year work history.

If you want to manage your own properties, I would highly recommend buying within an hour of your primary.

If you're planning to invest locally, I highly recommend it.

Did you end up using them - talking to them right now - and a little nervous to pay the engagement fee.

The Real Estate Guys do a great newsletter with lots of high-level information about the economy and how it impacts real estate.  

If you already have a high interest rate, consider a cash-out refinance with a fixed rate rather than a HELOC.A third option could be to sell.

You're gonna argue anything I say until the end of time.

With family it can get tricky as you want to make sure they understand you're going to be flipping the contract onto an end buyer for possibly more money than $1M and that's how you end up getting paid... family can take this in the wrong way LOL :) 

Ask yourself: Do you know ANY highly successful real estate investors or sales pros who sleep in, waste time, and still crush it? 

Quote from @Bien Nguyen: My husband and I recently launched our STR end of December 2023 near Savannah, GA and are already booked through mid-April 2024 with some bookings in May 2024.