Tim's idea about using the RUBS strategy may be your only option here.

(Not because I expect that, but because I wanted to get an idea of the character of their business.)

One is not necessarily better than the other.Some potential drawbacks to a home + rental unit:Shared utilitiesParkingTenant preferences (house tenants may shy away from the idea of someone living in their garage or basement)Zoning/Code Enforcement issuesInsurance costs can differ, depending on the configuration of the units

I like the idea of contacting your longer-held cards and asking for increases there.

Maybe talk to Bill Exeter at Exeter 1031 in CA for ideas.

And it'll just make it harder to get a flight and I'll have to start flying to BWI and riding the MARC/Amtrak to DC.I have no idea why being near an airport can have bearing one way or another.

The idea is for me to use my personal funds to make the purchase, and for my wife to operate the property on AirBnB, through an LLC.We have a prenup applicable to the funds, and the source of the funds is documented and dated.

His ideas on BRR and ...it's prob better to be  conservative when you start AND during this timing of the RE cycle

I don't see any screws :(Any ideas for how I should proceed?

I'm a creative mind and want to put these skills to use but I have no Idea where to start.