Even more after you consider the hard money costs. 2) the hard money route is going to cost you at least a few % of the loan value so it’s basically the same as just raising your offer a few percent even higher than “overbidding by an insane amount”.3) the seller’s might be taking cash offers because they know they won’t appraise for the sale price.

You're Pushing your potential buyer/buyers to possibly walk away if they can't find solution. more often than not the money you end up missing on, exceeds the 1%-2% coop commission you're trying to save.  

If he files a transfer deed to the Land Trust or if he "sells it" then property taxes increase, the change in hazard insurance becomes a tangle.I wouldn't give authority to a bank person to collect rents, file evictions, deal with repairs... there are set up costs and on-going management costs.

However, this seems like it might be a good case for exception potentially - especially if the STR units have long history.

So....... with my previous CPA (who has since unexpectedly retired) we did a cost segregation study on an asset that was placed into service in 2021 which broke down the bonus depreciable items into 3 buckets, a 15 year bucket, a 7 year bucket, a 5 year bucket and the rest would be on a 39 year straight line depreciation schedule as it is a short term rental.

It doesn't cost anything to attend RE meeting, introduce yourself and get contact of people who invest in properties.

I’m much more into this than she is lol she’s not against it just doesn’t push for it like I do, in addition to the fact we will cut our possible mortgages in half if we both go on the same one)My realtor is pushing for us/me to look at more expensive multi’s as there’s less competition and potentially bigger returns.

(not counting the state LLC cost) I am not going to respond to your SDIRA/LLC consulting service unless you are a lawyer or can quote me a cost. 

Is there any potential for doing a cash-out refinance on the duplex and using those funds for the purpose of buying the property you want? 

It has a potential to convert an under-truss lanai (sunroom) into an additional bedroom and bathroom, adding 253 square feet to the house.