Cash flow is definitely the biggest challenge; both in terms of finding properties to buy that cash flow with a loan on them and just company wide given interest rates and labor/material is up and, at least where I'm at in Jackson County, MO, taxes are way up too. 

Engage architect/civil engineering - If you are buying land to start development and not just land-banking, I'd engage with an architect immediately.

.- Women are buying more homes.

We cash-buy or use light debt, then refi or hold once cash flow’s rolling.

The Tenant Class greatly impacts rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.Both Property Classand Tenant Class affect what type of contractors, handymen and property management companies will work on a property.If you buy & renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what Tenant Class will rent it?

@Ben Callahan, you could find a partner who is looking to buy a similar property, be a co-signer to your partner, and have that person live in it and be a primary resident. 

Ensure you are buying in an area you want and can see your family living in.

Too bad you can't buy something owner-occupied, put 5% down with the best interest rate, live in it for 12 months (and fix it up), rent it out and repeat the cycle.Here's some other info you might find 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?

The best strategy is to buy properties that need fixed up with hard money/HELOC, fix them up, the refi out to pay back your HELOC/hard money.

Quote from @Roger Paschal: Quote from @Quentin Hollis: I'm currently working on my first real estate deal and will be buying a property subject to the owners existing mortgage.