If you're planning to rehab properties for rental or flipping, a hard money lender might be the right fit.

One is under contract in which I plan to 1031 into something larger and the other I just plan to keep as the contract expires soon.

This could easily cost you $10’s of thousands if you plan to stay in the home 5+ years when you return. 

A friend of mine from abroad plans to buy a property in CO or FL with a budget of $10 million, but she plans to use Bitcoin to pay for the house.

If purchasing new real estate as part of your reinvestment, a cost segregation study can maximize depreciation deductions, offsetting future taxable income.For effective planning, assess how the sale price is allocated between real estate, tangible assets, and goodwill, as this determines the tax treatment.

Good call, getting multiple bids is definitely the plan.

I look forward to learning everything there is to gaining financial freedom and becoming an investor. 

With things like the ONE Linden plan in Linden, which is a 50M plan to improve the neighborhood.

@Isaac Terry Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

@Tove Fox hope you find this copy & paste useful:)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?