I personally have not rehabbed a house with fire damage, but I'm close with two highly experienced investors who have done so.

I have never been a landlord but Hickory is close enough that I would probably handle it myself versus hiring a property manager.

We carved out a niche: supporting creative businesses with everything from bookkeeping to closing deals.

As each house is closed, the profit is rolled in as working capital.  

It will also be much faster to close on a bridge than a DSCR loan. 

Closing costs be way higher on a non owner financed deal.

This realtors long history of dominance in an area also brings pricing confidence when you are setting up your budgets on day one. if you are doing more than 1 per year and giving them close to full commission on the purchase and sale, you can really create a great team member who is winning every time you are.

Planning to self-manage remotely / family in town close by in case of immediate action.

Are you talking about the entire process from finding deal to analyzing to offering to closing?

I recently purchased a commercial real estate property and on the verge of closing.