Working with someone who actively invests and has experience is a game changer.In short, iron out what strategy you want, figure out your terms and stick with them, find your neighborhoods, and find a great real estate agent to work with that is also an investor.You'll be in an investment property in no time, best of luck. 

- Because this looks good on paper, what are the things that I should have prepared prior to making a deal in order to strike while the iron is hot?

Old houses have cast iron pipers that will disintegrate (because of age and/or foundation shift).

On the other hand, my bigger apartment deals consistently make money and ironically, they have LESS headaches than single family homes.But on your point about small apartment buildings not making money - well, it's not true all the time though.

I use Shawn Averett of Iron Man for all my deals.

I recently decided to leave college as I didn’t want to use my investment money to pay for it now that I have the money (ironic how that works), the mediocre pay I would have had after school, and because I was basically just trying to justify staying in school because of sunk-cost fallacy.

I apply for a job in arizona for some guy opening up a BBQ restaurant.

I'm ironically a Nurse Corps officer but if I'm being frank I prefer houses to patients haha.

If you want to manage the project yourself, you'll have to reach out to an iron-worker/welding company.

You want to know what I do I rule over my tenants with an iron fist don’t call me unless you need something fixed that I’m responsible for or you’re making a rent payment.