I'd personally wouldn't refi it.

These professionals can provide expert guidance, conduct a thorough assessment of your property's valuation, and represent you in negotiations or appeals with the assessor's office or assessment appeals board.Attend Assessment Hearings: If your jurisdiction offers assessment appeal hearings, attend these hearings to present your case in person.

I am a handy person who would be able to perform much of the home renovation myself.

House hacking will also give you some personal "property management" experience.

You will also gain valuable experience that you can leverage for other opportunities.Speaking from personal experience, I have several STR rentals in California (I co-own STRental Pros in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Riverside County).

I can prove that I had about 100 emails back and forth with different lenders and I also have a denial letter.

Ideally, my buyers are fully employed and financially liquid foreigners - be it from the US, the UK, central and northern Europe - either a single person or a couple with 0-1 kids, looking to live there right now, rent it out as an investment and then sell it, or use it as a future base for retirement.

It's like a person who has serious stomach issues but refuses to go to the doctor because they're afraid they'll be given a terminal diagnosis.

I use Travelers and had insurance on the landlord, dwelling and personal property level (because if the place is furnished by you, you have to have insurance on it) and they didn't cover anything.

what  happens if one partner wants to exit the property in the future and the other person doesnt )    2)  consider  buying and  financing it as a rental property  or using a DSCR  ( debt service coverage) type loan   3)  consider  additonal co borrowers  that are  strong  ( relatives )   4) obtain a new job that has a salary  that can be used  5)  wait to buy unitl you have the  seasoning for the variable income