So, if an investor refinances a property and takes out cash, there is no tax owed.Capital preservation through strategy.

In my experience no (2-4 Family transactions).The Occupancy can be supported by it's current and legal use, number of meters in conjunction with Department of finance (DOF)classification and housing preservation and developments (HPD) classification.Source:In early 2021 I was selling agent on two investment properties in the Bronx and Staten Island where this was an issue on a flip out.

--Getting a fix and flip loan for under 35k seems to be harder than nailing jello to a wall.

Obviously I would like to preserve the most amount of this fund in order to invest in RE.Thanks!

One of my first jobs after getting out of the military was starting my own business in the mortgage field services & property preservation on REO properties.

Others above have hit the nail on the head, most successful investors don't have the time to spend in the forums as much since they're busy working.

They have something to lose with credit and other things and will want to preserve things if they have to leave.

I don't  want to  keep banging  nails but I'm  excited  about starting.

You pretty much nailed it, but I’d clarify: It doesn’t need to be turnkey - just long term buy and holdIt is not enough to beat risk free investments, it needs to have a compelling risk-adjusted return.  

Would love to start building up connections as well; my wife and I are motivated to get going but are trying to nail down the markets we want to target and how to best go about building our teams.