When you know the buying process, the neighborhood, and how to find the property on your own, and are ready to buy another property: How can you avoid the 2-3% buyer commission portion going to an agent on an MLS listed property, without having to get your license and pay the costs of having a license?

One of my properties is in a C-area.

I would definitely justify charging 1.5x the market rent for the inconvenience of not being able to move into the property. 

Now I am on property #9 (that took 5 years).  

@Chris Robinson where are your properties in Michigan?

However, He still has a loan on the property.

I’d love to hear if your biggest home runs have been from: a) buying an existing STR, tweaking it with your own unique skill set and applying your experience-proven enhancements to be a top performing property, orb) converting a previously non-rental property into an STR?

I have been involved with many, many transactions during this time and I can assure you that every single deal, whether I've represented a Seller or Buyer or myself, has been different than the pervious. 

I’ve worked with a lot of first-time buyers, and common concerns like HOA restrictions or property management costs often come up.

The property came with a tenant in place, who was the brother of the seller.