2) How did you structure your first deal, and what challenges did you face?

As many cities require insurances for any rental properties, this will be very challenging for market being affected.

Yes that seems high but without a breakdown of costs for the 13k it's challenging.

Being young will present challenges in a field where experience is highly valued not just with lenders.

People all of the time, "over estimate" the opportunity and "underestimate" the cost and challenges in doing a profitable flip.

Flipping on a land lease with high HOA fees = challenges that could impact profitability. $700/month HOA fee may deter buyers, elongating your resale timeline, and could push your ARV closer to the lower end of your range.

With Gator you are not technically lending you are joint venturing (partnering) on real estate transactions and bringing the earnest money. 

Avoid common pitfalls like underestimating costs or tenant management challenges by planning conservatively and staying proactive.

Lending was another challenge, lending restrictions were starting to tighten up, and we had to get a bit creative with our lenders to get the financing we needed to close.

Challenges?