When my husband and I moved to Maine from the South, we couldn’t afford a single-family home. Instead, we took a leap of faith and purchased a four-unit fixer-upper through a short sale. That experience ignited my passion for real estate investment and taught me the value of creativity, perseverance, and smart decision-making.

Fast forward to 2022, a close friend—wildly successful in short sales—offered to mentor me. Thanks to their guidance, I d...