Curious if this would be advisable for the first one to help save some money and then maybe add management as money allows.

What probably doesn’t help also is that we will be using hard money which eats into profits and so getting that better deal seems to be harder compared to investors that have cash. 

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

Honestly private money is not hard to find if you have the credit and down payment amount.

(edit: the property can have up to 3 units built on it...house with attached separate apartment + unattached ADU)Of course, other people are telling me to park my cash in a high yield savings account and just chill LOL, but I'm not really comfortable with that either as an investment strategy.

Refinanced them both to get my money out but they only rent for $795 and $775 but property taxes are a little cheaper in AL. 

We took out a heloc from the SFH to get the money down for the duplex which we lived in one of the units.

These are some of the ways the clients could be affected by property managers who are not prepared: Extended VacanciesInadequate marketing strategies and tenant screening processes can result in prolonged vacancy periods, translating into substantial lost rental income.High tenant turnover due to poor resident relations further exacerbates vacancy losses.Inadequate Maintenance and RepairsNeglecting preventive maintenance and delaying necessary repairs can lead to accelerated property deterioration and higher long-term repair costs.This can also negatively impact tenant satisfaction, contributing to higher turnover rates.Legal and Compliance IssuesLack of knowledge or disregard for landlord-tenant laws and regulations can expose investors to costly legal disputes and penalties.Failure to properly handle security deposits, evictions, or fair housing practices can result in significant financial liabilities.Ineffective Financial ManagementInaccurate budgeting, expense tracking, and financial reporting can lead to uninformed decision-making and missed opportunities for cost savings.Failure to optimize tax strategies and leverage available deductions can further reduce net returns.Diminished Property ValueInadequate maintenance, high vacancy rates, and poor tenant screening can negatively impact a property’s perceived value and appreciation potential.This can significantly affect the long-term return on investment when it comes time to sell the asset.While a 10% management fee may seem reasonable for a well-performing property manager, the cumulative impact of mismanagement can quickly escalate the effective cost to investors, potentially outweighing any perceived savings on the management fee itself.

.- Your out-of-state investor agent should have plenty of recommendations for local contractors, lenders (conventional and hard money), property managers, etc. and be able to identify appropriate assumptions for your analysis (e.g., appreciation, vacancy, rent estimates, etc.).If you have questions, feel free to PM me--happy to help.

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