If the borrower couldn't sell or the objective was always to refinance the property, most lenders want to see their borrowers have liquidity (otherwise the borrower's signature as a guarantor is worthless).

Every choice comes with its advantages and disadvantages, so it's crucial to consider what aligns with your financial situation and objectives.

The main objective was to learn how he conducts his side of the business and what a typical client experience over probate.

After a rather long and frustrating process, encountering unforeseen objections while selling, I settle for an offer leaving me with a profit of about $5k.

I personally invest in residential rehabs with an objective of flipping or buying and holding depending on the terms of the deal and the market. 

I don't think you're wrong, I would just caution not to minimize the external forces that have a strong effect on supply and demand.High enough interest rates will effectively kill any demand, since few individuals have the ability to purchase a house for cash.Lack of government supported mortgages will effectively kill any demand, since relatively few individuals have the ability to overcome the banking objections (and interest rates) that would accompany loans that weren't federally backed.Extreme local changes in desirability will effectively kill demand, such as the oil bust in Texas/Oklahoma in the 80s, the Rust Belt state declines in the 90s, etc.

Choosing a market for the wrong reasonsInstead of selecting a market for objective reasons like a strong economy and job market, investors select a city for subjective reasons such as the area being a popular spot for family vacations.2.

This can be a crucial advantage as you aim to strengthen your financial position and portfolio over time.Considering your goals of building equity, renovating the property, and establishing a rental portfolio, the family-offered property aligns well with your objectives.

Everyone has their own objective in real estate, so the more important question you should be asking is.Does this property meet your criteria and your objectives?

The objective: SFR 3/1 25k-45k in decent working class neighborhoods.Result: pretty satisfied with solid returns but also conscious that you must pay attention to details and be monitoring everything.