Here’s why lease options are a game-changer:🔹 Low Risk, High Leverage – Instead of buying a property outright, you lease it with the option to purchase later.

I bought my first house 2 years ago for 255k 20% down at 6.375% APR.

Lowe's just came out with their biggest appliance sale of the year- up to 40% off.

Financing Your First Flip with Low CashHard Money Loans (HML): Covers most costs but requires 10-20% down, with 10-12% interest.

ONLY lenders had computers to figure out apr etc. 

The slow and steady approach is fine for this property but it feels like a waste to sit on a low performing asset and assuming rent increase is a strong enough lever to pull on for FI.

That is why it is hard to get regular real estate loans on assets valued so low, the cost of the refinance makes it so you are paying higher than they can legally charge you percentage wise.

When I did my first house hack in Columbus I showed very low income on taxes. 

You also need the operating cash to do rehab.I say this because you mention FHA and low money.

If we keep going the way this administration is doing it the lows will be less low, the uncertainty less uncertain.